Delivered during the canonization of the Martyrs of Otranto, Mother Laura Montoya, and Mother María Guadalupe García Zavala, this homily invites the faithful to interpret the saints’ lives through Scripture. Pope Francis organizes his reflection around three demands of Christian holiness: remaining faithful to Christ, sharing the Gospel, and practicing charity.

The Otranto martyrs, like Saint Stephen, exemplify total fidelity: they refused to renounce their faith and drew strength from hope in the risen Christ. Their witness encourages Christians today to persevere amid opposition and to pray for people suffering violence because of their faith. Saint Laura Montoya represents evangelization carried out through respectful love, especially among Indigenous communities. Her example rejects isolated or individualistic faith and calls believers to share Christ joyfully, overcome prejudice, and recognize Jesus in every person. Saint María Guadalupe García Zavala embodies sacrificial charity: abandoning comfort, she served the poor and sick, treating the marginalized with tenderness as Christ himself. Through these examples, the Pope challenges Christians to reject self-centered comfort and test their own fidelity through concrete love for others.