Martyrs
The Latest
Catholic priests martyred under Ottoman Empire beatified in Lebanon
Father Leonard Melki and Father Thomas Saleh were martyred in 1915 and 1917 respectively. Read more
Who was Titus Brandsma?
Pope Francis will canonize the World War II martyr in May. Read more
Pope Francis opens special process to canonize 16 Carmelite martyrs of the French Revolution
At the request of the bishops of France and the Order of Carmelites Discalced (OCD), Pope Francis agreed on Feb.... Read more
Pope Francis honors newly beatified El Salvador martyrs for their ‘heroic example’
Father Cosme Spessotto, Father Rutilio Grande, and two lay companions were declared blessed. Read more
Pope Francis recognizes miracle attributed to WWII martyr Bl. Titus Brandsma’s intercession
The decision paves the way for the Dutch Carmelite friar’s canonization. Read more
Poland commemorates anniversary of Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko’s martyrdom
The blessed was killed on Oct. 19, 1984. Read more
St José Sánchez del Río's witness highlighted at Mexican Martyrs Shrine statue dedication
At the dedication of the statue of Saint José Sánchez del Río at Guadalajara’s Martyrs Shrine, the city’s archbishop highlighted... Read more
Argentine bishops welcome Vatican recognition of priests' 1683 martyrdom
Bishops in Argentina have welcomed the promulgation of a decree by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints that regards... Read more
Relics of first Korean Catholic martyrs identified with DNA testing
The martyrs were among the first of thousands of Catholics to be tortured and executed. Read more
5 things you need to know about Blessed Stanley Rother
Not much is popularly known about Blessed Stanley Rother, the small town Oklahoma native who was declared blessed in September... Read more
Polish Catholic priest guillotined by Nazis to be beatified in November
Fr. Jan Macha will be declared blessed in Katowice, southern Poland, on Nov. 20. Read more
Catholic priests offer Masses ‘for renewal of the faith’ at Ireland’s Mass rocks
Masses were celebrated at Mass rocks in all of Ireland’s 26 dioceses. Read more
Catholic Church in Russia reorganizes causes of 20th-century martyrs
All the candidates died after the Russian Revolution and the Bolshevik establishment of the Soviet Union. Read more
Catholic martyrs’ bones identified almost 150 years after discovery in an attic
Two skulls were discovered in an attic in Wales in 1878. Researchers believe they have now identified them as belonging... Read more
Pope Francis: Martyred Catholic judge showed mafia’s ‘intrinsic denial of the Gospel’
In the preface to a new book, Pope Francis says that the martyrdom of Italian Catholic judge Rosario Livatino in... Read more
How a former heroin addict unearthed a book of Irish martyrs
Damien Richardson rediscovered his faith and overcame addiction. Then he unearthed an extraordinary book about Ireland’s Catholic history... Read more
Archbishop: ‘The Catholic Church in Albania enjoys great credibility and respect’
Pope Francis only spent 11 hours in Albania when he visited the country in 2014. But for some, his trip was... Read more
Rosario Livatino’s postulator: Christians urgently need ‘credible witnesses’
The postulator of the beatification cause of a judge martyred by the mafia says that Christians today urgently need “credible... Read more
How a martyr killed by the mafia inspired a generation of Catholic lawyers
Soon-to-be Blessed Rosario Livatino was a Catholic judge brutally killed by the mafia in Sicily in 1990. Today his legal... Read more
Archdiocese prepares beatification cause of anti-Nazi White Rose member
A German archdiocese said Monday that it is preparing to open the beatification cause of a member of the White... Read more
