Vatican City, Dec 26, 2019 / 05:02 am (CNA).- The death of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, teaches Catholics to renew their commitment to charity and self-gift, part of the meaning of Christmas, Pope Francis said Thursday.

In his address before the Angelus on the feast of St. Stephen Dec. 26, the pope noted that “in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, this memory of the first Christian killed for the faith may appear out of place.”