new Christian martyrs Archives

Iraqi martyr remembered in Rome ten years after murder

Jun 13, 2017

Rome’s Pontifical Irish College celebrated Holy Trinity Mass in the memory of Father Ragheed Ganni, a former resident. In 2007, the 35-year-old Iraqi priest was shot to death by Islamic militants. Also killed were three subdeacons: Basman Daoud, Ghasan Bidawid and Waheed Isho’a.

By Filipe Domingues

Martyrdom ‘not remote possibility’ for Mindanao Catholics, priest says

Jun 12, 2017

“The value of witnessing cuts across generations,” Jesuit Father Tim Ofracio said. He was speaking both about the cause for martyrdom for Jesuit Father Francesco Palliola as well as Father Teresito Soganub and other Catholics kidnapped recently by militants. “These are values that raise the dignity of the human person.” He said there is a demand for a “new kind of martyrdom” today, “like dying to yourself and living for others.”

By Catholic News Service

Before proclaiming martyrs, the waiting game is needed
- May 6, 2017
Many of those killed in attacks targeting Christians were simply going about their daily affairs when the bomb went off, or the mob arrived. Some of them professed their faith, or at least did not deny it, before death, while others died without even knowing what was happening to them. Before the Church proclaims them all martyrs, the Church needs time to permit a fuller picture of the candidate to emerge. Waiving the mandatory five-year waiting period before opening a cause for canonization makes it harder to do that.

By Father Raymond J. de Souza
Church without martyrs is church without Jesus, pope says
- Jan 30, 2017
“A church without martyrs, dare I say, is a church without Jesus,” Pope Francis said during Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae. There are more Christian martyrs today than in the first centuries of the church, but “the mass media doesn’t say so because it isn’t newsworthy,” he added.

By Carol Glatz
Town square in France named after priest murdered by ISIS
- Jan 29, 2017
Ermont mayor Hugues Portelli called Father Jacques Hamel “an example of dialogue between the religions and communities in his parish on the outskirts of Rouen and he has joined all those innocent victims of fanaticism in our country and the world.”

By Catholic News Agency
Pope calls French priest murdered by ISIS loyalists a ‘martyr’
- Sep 14, 2016
Pope Francis on Wednesday celebrated a Mass in honor of Father Jacques Hamel, the French priest slain in late July while saying Mass by two men who professed loyalty to the Islamic State, referring to the murdered priest as a “martyr” and insisting that killing in the name of God is “satanic.”

By Inés San Martín