Martyrs
The Latest
Pope Francis to Catholics: Do not fear persecution, violence
Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged Christians to fear sin, not the hostility, violence, or persecution they may face when sharing... Read more
China’s first saint was martyred on a cross in Wuhan
China’s first canonized saint was martyred by suffocation on a cross in Wuhan, the epicenter of today’s coronavirus pandemic. Read more
St. Stephen's martyrdom shows 'true meaning of Christmas,' Pope Francis says
The death of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, teaches Catholics to renew their commitment to charity and self-gift, part... Read more
Pope Francis honors heroism of Japanese martyrs of Nagasaki
Pope Francis Sunday honored the many martyrs who died in Japan during two centuries of persecution, encouraging Catholics in the... Read more
Construction on Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine begins in OKC
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City broke ground Sunday on what will be the largest Catholic church in the state—... Read more
Pope Francis celebrates All Souls' Day Mass in Rome catacombs
Pope Francis celebrated Mass Saturday for the souls of the dead in Rome’s Catacombs of Priscilla, saying the place of a... Read more
Archdiocese to break ground for Bl. Stanley Rother shrine in November
The shy and unassuming Blessed Father Stanley Rother, a missionary priest and martyr from a farming family, would likely be... Read more
This Roman basilica is dedicated to 20th century martyrs
On an island in Rome’s Tiber River, there is a basilica devoted to the Christian martyrs of the 20th century,... Read more
'Witnesses of freedom and mercy' - Pope Francis remembers bishops martyred under Communism
Pope Francis Wednesday reflected upon his recent apostolic visit to Romania, where he beatified seven Greek-Catholic bishops martyred under Soviet... Read more
Pope in Romania: Martyred bishops gave their lives for fidelity to the Church
Declaring their beatification Sunday in Romania, Pope Francis said seven martyred Greek-Catholic bishops gave their lives for fidelity to the... Read more
Pope Francis says Catholics, Orthodox bonded by blood of the martyrs
Pope Francis said Friday that Catholics and Orthodox are bonded by a “shared inheritance” of suffering for Christ from the... Read more
Pope Francis will beatify these martyred Greek-Catholic bishops in Romania
On Sunday in Blaj, Pope Francis will beatify seven Greek-Catholic bishops of Romania who were killed by the communist regime... Read more
Pope Francis: Martyred seminarians provide a witness for priests, bishops
Pope Francis said Sunday that the nine Spanish seminarian martyrs beatified this weekend provide a witness to priests and bishops... Read more
Beloved 1950s Hungarian priest and martyr beatified
Fr. János Brenner, a Cistercian Hungarian priest who was martyred in the 1950s, was beatified May 1. The beatification took... Read more
Two 20th-century martyrs move toward beatification
Saturday Pope Francis moved two 20th-century martyrs a step closer to sainthood, including Veronica Antal, a young Romanian woman killed... Read more
These priests were martyred for refusing to violate the seal of confession
In recent years, some Catholics have been concerned by pushes from governments in locations such as Louisiana and Australia who... Read more
Italian nun martyred in Somalia takes step toward beatification
An Italian nun killed in Somalia in 2006 has been officially recognized as a martyr, as Pope Francis moved her... Read more
Was the last 'witch' of Boston actually a Catholic martyr?
The last person hanged for witchcraft in Boston could be considered a Catholic martyr. Read more
Moved by priest's martyrdom, French businessman returns to the faith
Patrick Canac was baptized, but like so many others, drifted away from the Church over time. Read more
