Today in Rome, we commemorate the feast (and public holiday) of Saints Peter and Paul. As part of our celebration, we're fortunate enough to attend the papal mass at St Peter's, and witness the Archbishop of Toronto, Francis Leo, receive his pallium. As we toured this site the other day, our guide, Cornelius, explained how Peter and Paul were martyred not far from where this beautiful basilica now stands. Martyrdom is a large part of Christian history, and while it is tempting to relegate it to a time long past, its effects are still felt to this day, and in ways you wouldn't expect. Not only are there still Christians today who suffer for their faith, but this is a point of unity among Christians—or an "ecumenism of blood" as we heard in one of our lectures on Monday. The martyrdom of Christians has an impact that transcends denominational lines, and is felt by Christians of many creeds, not simply our own. Having received this insight before today's celebrazioni makes this day even more memorable in that it beckons us to remember a time when we were "all one".
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