Holy Father Pope Francis appreciated and praised the virtue and example of Blessed Stanley Francis Rother, one day after the secular missionary priest of Oklahoma in the United States was beatified as a martyr. His Holiness while addressing the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican, highlighted the spiritual courage of the priest who was killed on July 28th, 1981.
As reported by Vatican radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “In Oklahoma City, the missionary priest, Stanley Francis Rother, killed in hatred of faith for his work of evangelization and work to promote the human dignity of the poorest people in Guatemala, was proclaimed Blessed.” Further, His Holiness added, “May his heroic example help us to be courageous witnesses to the Gospel, committed to working on behalf of the dignity of man.”
Bl. Stanley Francis was killed after returning to Guatemala to minister his flock, despite several death threats and warning his life would be in danger. “Well, a shepherd cannot run from his flock” was what he said in explanation of his decision to return in the face of such danger.
