Pope Francis has granted the Diocese of Coimbra, in central Portugal, a jubilee year which began on January 12 and will run until January 17, 2021.
The jubilee marks the 800th anniversary of the martyrdom of five Franciscan friars who set off to Morocco to evangelise Muslims in the 13th century. It is said that when St Francis heard of their death he praised God, saying: “Now at last do I have true Friars Minor!”
In a pastoral letter to the diocese, local Bishop Virgílio Antunes highlighted the example of the Moroccan martyrs and said that persecution may not be far off in Portugal itself.
