Martyrs

The Latest

Pope Francis waves at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Nov. 18, 2015.

Pope Francis: Martyrs are still the 'life blood of the Church'

Apr 7, 2016

Pope Francis on Thursday praised the consistency and courage of the modern day martyrs who continue to “carry the Church... Read more

From L-R: Sr. Anselm, Sr. Reginette,  Sr. Judith, Sr. Marguerite.

Here are the faces of the nuns who were martyred in Yemen

Mar 8, 2016

By Alan Holdren

Sister Anslem, Sister Reginette, Sister Judith, Sister Marguerite, and were serving as caretakers at the Missionaries of Charity's convent and... Read more

Missionaries of Charity at a prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square, June 19, 2015.

There's no question – the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen 'died as martyrs'

Mar 6, 2016

By Elise Harris, Alan Holdren

After a recent attack at a Missionaries of Charity convent in Yemen claimed the lives of four of the sisters... Read more

Cross of the Martyrs.

The number of Christian martyrs has tripled in two years.

Jan 15, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

In 2013, there were some 2,100 Christians killed for faith-related reasons across the globe. Last year, that number rose to... Read more

Indian Women.

Soon to be saints? India's Christians killed in brutal 2008 massacre

Jan 5, 2016

By Elise Harris

The green light has officially been given to open the cause for sainthood of the nearly 100 Christians murdered in... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square Feb 18.

Let God's forgiveness heal your heart, Pope Francis says after Christmas

Dec 26, 2015

For Pope Francis, the path forward from Christmas can be found in the martyrdom of St. Stephen, especially in his... Read more

Blessed Benedict Daswa, who was martyred in 1990, and beatified Sept. 13.

Blessed Benedict Daswa: the South African martyred for rejecting witchcraft

Sep 14, 2015

Benedict Daswa, a South African catechist whose Christian opposition to witchcraft led to his murder in 1990, was beatified on... Read more

Photo

Pope Francis and his growing litany of modern-day martyrs

Apr 21, 2015

By Elise Harris

Amid a torrent of recent news reports on persecuted Christians, Pope Francis reflected on those killed for their faith and... Read more

Pope Francis.

Blood of the martyrs sustains the Church, Pope reflects

Apr 1, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis, in his General Audience address for Holy Week, said that the Christian martyrs of today, by the shedding... Read more

Japan's history of 'hidden' Christians and what the Pope said about it

Mar 23, 2015

In a recent meeting with Japan's bishops, Pope Francis discussed how the country's brutal history of Christian persecution has given... Read more

Prayer vigil outside the White House remembers 21 murdered Coptic Christians in Libya.

For Coptic Christians, threat of martyrdom is part of daily life

Feb 22, 2015

By Matt Hadro

The brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya at the hands of ISIS last week is shining a light... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea, August 14, 2014.

Pope condemns beheading of Egyptian Christians, says blood 'cries out to be heard'

Feb 16, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis mourned the 21 Egyptian Christians beheaded by the Islamic State, calling them martyrs that “belong to all Christians.”  Read more

Fr. Alessandro Dordi. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Bergamo/diocesibg.it.

Killed by terrorists, named a martyr: the life of Fr. Alessandro Dordi

Feb 6, 2015

On Feb. 3, Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Father Alessandro Dordi, an Italian priest whose work of evangelization with... Read more

Archbishop Oscaro Romero with young people in El Salvador in this undated file photo. Photo courtesy of Arzobispado de San Salvador/Oficina de la Causa de Canonizacion.

Archbishop Romero's witness a 'slap in the face' to self-centered society

Feb 5, 2015

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the postulator of Archbishop Oscar Romero's cause for beatification, said the martyr's life was a chastisement of... Read more

Fr. Miguel Tomaszek and Fr. Zbigniew Strzalkowski (Public Domain).

Who are the two Polish priests martyred in Peru?

Feb 5, 2015

Two Polish priest killed by a Communist group in Peru were among those recognized as martyrs by Pope Francis on... Read more

Displaced persons in Maiduguri, who are being cared for by the local Church, in Sept. 2014.

Life is cheaper than salt: a Nigerian bishop facing Boko Haram

Oct 29, 2014

Bishop Oliver Doeme, who heads the Nigerian diocese which has suffered the most from Boko Haram, has lamented his government's... Read more

Dr. Geraldine Kelley, a translator of entries in the

The USSR's Catholic martyrs suffered, but they suffered for God

Oct 22, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic victims of the Soviet Union’s cruel anti-Christian persecutions faced execution, exile and arbitrary imprisonment for their faith – and... Read more

A young refugee rests after having fled from ISIS and arrived in Ankawa in the northern part of Erbil, Iraq.

Iraqis will be seen like early Christian martyrs, priest predicts

Sep 12, 2014

An Argentinian priest caring for the Catholic community in Baghdad says the faith of persecuted Iraqi Christians is moving and... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives for the closing Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day Aug. 17, 2014.

'Asian youth, wake up!' Church needs your witness, Pope says

Aug 17, 2014

Addressing thousands of young people from across Asia, Pope Francis emphasized the urgent need to “wake up” and spread Christ’s... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience on May 14, 2014.

Vatican releases itinerary for Pope’s visit to Korea

Jun 19, 2014

By Elise Harris

The Holy See has officially announced what Pope Francis’ schedule will be while in South Korea later this summer, during... Read more