Martyrs
The Latest
There's no question – the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen 'died as martyrs'
After a recent attack at a Missionaries of Charity convent in Yemen claimed the lives of four of the sisters... Read more
The number of Christian martyrs has tripled in two years.
In 2013, there were some 2,100 Christians killed for faith-related reasons across the globe. Last year, that number rose to... Read more
Soon to be saints? India's Christians killed in brutal 2008 massacre
The green light has officially been given to open the cause for sainthood of the nearly 100 Christians murdered in... Read more
Let God's forgiveness heal your heart, Pope Francis says after Christmas
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: the South African martyred for rejecting witchcraft
Benedict Daswa, a South African catechist whose Christian opposition to witchcraft led to his murder in 1990, was beatified on... Read more
Pope Francis and his growing litany of modern-day martyrs
Amid a torrent of recent news reports on persecuted Christians, Pope Francis reflected on those killed for their faith and... Read more
Blood of the martyrs sustains the Church, Pope reflects
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
In a recent meeting with Japan's bishops, Pope Francis discussed how the country's brutal history of Christian persecution has given... Read more
For Coptic Christians, threat of martyrdom is part of daily life
The brutal murder of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya at the hands of ISIS last week is shining a light... Read more
Pope condemns beheading of Egyptian Christians, says blood 'cries out to be heard'
Pope Francis mourned the 21 Egyptian Christians beheaded by the Islamic State, calling them martyrs that “belong to all Christians.” Read more
Killed by terrorists, named a martyr: the life of Fr. Alessandro Dordi
On Feb. 3, Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Father Alessandro Dordi, an Italian priest whose work of evangelization with... Read more
Archbishop Romero's witness a 'slap in the face' to self-centered society
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the postulator of Archbishop Oscar Romero's cause for beatification, said the martyr's life was a chastisement of... Read more
Who are the two Polish priests martyred in Peru?
Two Polish priest killed by a Communist group in Peru were among those recognized as martyrs by Pope Francis on... Read more
Life is cheaper than salt: a Nigerian bishop facing Boko Haram
Bishop Oliver Doeme, who heads the Nigerian diocese which has suffered the most from Boko Haram, has lamented his government's... Read more
The USSR's Catholic martyrs suffered, but they suffered for God
Catholic victims of the Soviet Union’s cruel anti-Christian persecutions faced execution, exile and arbitrary imprisonment for their faith – and... Read more
Iraqis will be seen like early Christian martyrs, priest predicts
An Argentinian priest caring for the Catholic community in Baghdad says the faith of persecuted Iraqi Christians is moving and... Read more
'Asian youth, wake up!' Church needs your witness, Pope says
Addressing thousands of young people from across Asia, Pope Francis emphasized the urgent need to “wake up” and spread Christ’s... Read more
Vatican releases itinerary for Pope’s visit to Korea
The Holy See has officially announced what Pope Francis’ schedule will be while in South Korea later this summer, during... Read more
The Church is more than 'a university of religion,' Pope insists
In his daily Mass Pope Francis recounted the death of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, explaining that being a... Read more
Relaunch of English martyrs film brings stories to US audience
“Faith of Our Fathers,” a powerful 2013 film telling stories of the Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation, has been... Read more
