As Ireland marks the annual Aid to the Church in Need ‘Red Wednesday’, Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged parishioners to show solidarity with Christians who are persecuted and discriminated against because of their faith.

The Primate’s call comes as cathedrals, churches and monuments across Ireland were illuminated in red on Wednesday to mark a special ‘Week of Witness’ (November 17-24) for those suffering persecution throughout the Church. Red is the traditional colour of martyrdom.

The event is organised by the papal charity Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland and included red illumination of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, as well we the basilica at the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock, Co. Mayo.

Archbishop Martin said: “Aid to the Church in Need’s ‘Week of Witness’ and ‘Red Wednesday’ are an invitation to Christians across the island of Ireland to stand in solidarity with, and bear witness to, the heroic example of our persecuted brothers and sisters in faith across the world.  Pope Francis recently reminded us that potentially one in seven Christians around the world face persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.
“Lighting our cathedrals and churches in red on #RedWednesday, and people wearing an item of red clothing, will help shine a light on the reality of Christian persecution across the world, and to highlight the injustices perpetrated against other minority and faith groups.  The persecution of Christians, which is often not given the due prominence it deserves in commentary or in discussions around human rights and freedoms, cuts across all denominations and divisions within Christianity.  In fact, Pope Francis has spoken movingly about an ‘ecumenism of blood’ uniting all Christians together in suffering and shared witness.

“I thank God for the freedom of worship and religion that we enjoy on this island, a freedom that we did not always enjoy and which is denied so many people in our world today. I recognise that to be like Christ in an increasingly secularised world means being different, counter-cultural, and not easily swayed by the prevailing attitudes and opinions around us.

Archbishop Martin concluded, “Thanks to the hard work of Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland, many parishioners across our island are expressing concrete solidarity with those who are suffering.  As the Week of Witness and #RedWednesday approaches, I invite you to pray for the gift of courage, the grace of witness and loyalty to Christ for Christians all over the world and especially for those who continue to be challenged, attacked, displaced or even murdered for what they believe in,” he said.