Vatican commission documents more than 1,700 Christian martyrs in the 21st century

The Vatican's Commission for New Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith has documented more than 1,700 Christians killed in the 21st century, including Christians of various denominations. The commission announced the figure at a meeting in Rome on Tuesday. Between 100 and 150 new names have been added to the list this year. The commission was established in 2023 by Pope Leo XIV and operates under the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

The commission is holding a two-day international congress this week titled "The 21st Century, a New Age of Martyrs?" Fabio Fabene, secretary of the dicastery and president of the commission, said the body "continues to collect reports and information on Christians who have died because of the Gospel in every part of the world."

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the dicastery, said not all of the martyrs recorded will necessarily be canonized. "The grace of holiness in the Church is manifested in, though not limited to, canonizations," Semeraro said. "Obviously, it is not ruled out that for some of those listed in the catalogue, beatification and canonization proceedings may begin, provided the necessary conditions are met," he added.

Pope Leo XIV added 21 Coptic martyrs to the Roman Martyrology in 2023. The commission recognizes a "common martyrdom" among the baptized of different Christian denominations. Semeraro emphasized the "high standard of ordinary Christian life" promoted by St. John Paul II, and Pope Leo XIV's teaching on the "holiness of the person next door."

Africa and the Americas: epicenters of religious violence

Andrea Riccardi, a historian and vice president of the commission, said the 21st century is marked by martyrdom. "To the question of whether we are facing a new time of martyrdom, we must answer yes. A new century of martyrdom, strongly intuited by Pope Leo XIV. The time of martyrdom continues," he said.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is scheduled to speak after Islamic State terrorists recently claimed responsibility for the killing of 130 Christians in August. Large numbers of Christians have been killed across Africa, with high levels of violence in Nigeria, Mozambique, Burkina Faso and other countries.

The Vatican has documented 304 martyrs in South America so far this century. "Many were killed for reasons linked to drug trafficking, deforestation or opposition to the exploitation of natural resources," Semeraro said. He also said the total includes both missionaries and lay people, and that what their cases have in common is that they became "inconvenient" for those who control illegal activities.