Father Raniero Cantalamessa, whose title is "preacher of pontifical household," mentioned the Kenya attack at a long "Passion of the Lord" service, during which Pope Francis prostrated in prayer on the marble floor of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican.
That service is one of the few times he listens while someone else preaches.
"Christians are, of course, not the only victims of homicidal violence in the world, but we cannot ignore that in many countries they are the most frequently targeted victims," Cantalamessa said.
Cantalamessa denounced "the disturbing indifference of world institutions and public opinion in the face of all this killing of Christians ..."
Cantalamessa also mentioned the beheading of 22 Egyptian Coptic Christians last February by Islamic State militants in Libya.
On the other hand, Francis has expressed alarm over the plight of Christians targeted for their faith and has said the international community would be justified in using military force as a last resort to stop "unjust aggression" by Islamic State.
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