On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls became the setting for a profound and somber gathering as Pope Leo XIV led an ecumenical commemoration honoring the Christian martyrs of the 21st century. The event, marked by unity and solemnity, drew together Orthodox patriarchs, Eastern and Protestant leaders, Vatican officials, and representatives from more than 30 Christian denominations. Their shared purpose: to remember and honor those who have been killed for their faith in recent decades—a number that, according to the Vatican, is still rising in many parts of the world.
According to the Associated Press, the Vatican has been meticulously documenting these cases of martyrdom, not as part of the formal process of sainthood, but to preserve and remember the stories of those who have paid the ultimate price for their beliefs. A study commission, established in 2023 and operating independently from the Vatican’s saint-making office, has already recorded over 1,500 cases of Christian martyrs since the year 2000. These stories, though separated by geography and denomination, are united by what Pope Leo called the “ecumenism of blood”—a phrase that underscores the shared suffering and witness of Christians regardless of their particular church or tradition.
“Many brothers and sisters, even today, carry the same cross as our Lord on account of their witness to the faith in difficult situations and hostile contexts,” Pope Leo declared during the service. “Like him, they are persecuted, condemned and killed.” He went on to emphasize that, despite the violence inflicted upon them, “even though they have been killed in body, no one can silence their voice or erase the love they have shown.” These words, reported by Catholic News Agency, resonated deeply with those gathered, as stories of courage and sacrifice were recounted from every corner of the globe.
The Vatican’s commission has documented martyrdom across continents: 643 cases in sub-Saharan Africa—most killed in attacks by Islamic militants; 357 in Asia and Oceania, including the victims of the devastating 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings in Colombo, Sri Lanka; 304 in the Americas, often missionaries and activists targeted for defending the Amazon rainforest and the rights of the poor; 277 in the Middle East and North Africa, with many belonging to non-Catholic Christian communities; and 43 in Europe. Among those killed elsewhere were also 110 Europeans, mainly missionary priests and nuns, highlighting the global nature of the threat to Christians.
The stories of individual martyrs were brought to life during the service. Pope Leo recalled the example of Sister Dorothy Stang, the American nun who spent three decades in Brazil fighting for the preservation of the Amazon and the rights of impoverished settlers. In 2005, she was gunned down by ranchers who saw her advocacy as a threat. When her killers demanded a weapon, she famously held up her Bible and replied, “This is my only weapon.” Her courage, the pope said, remains a beacon of faith and nonviolence.
Other names were invoked as well. Father Ragheed Ganni, a Chaldean priest shot in Mosul, and Brother Francis Tofi, an Anglican religious killed in the Solomon Islands, were among those remembered for their unwavering fidelity to the Gospel and their solidarity with the oppressed. The pope also cited the tragic fate of 21 Coptic Orthodox workers beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya in 2015—a stark reminder of the ongoing dangers faced by Christians in regions marked by conflict and extremism.
“Unfortunately, despite the end of the great dictatorships of the twentieth century, to this day the persecution of Christians has not ended,” Pope Leo lamented, as reported by the Associated Press. He expressed sorrow that, in some places, the number of Christians killed for their faith is even greater now than in previous eras. The persistence of religious violence, he suggested, is a challenge that must be faced not only by Christians, but by all who care about human rights and dignity.
The service, held on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, was rich with prayers for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of their persecutors, and for a united Christian witness to justice, peace, and solidarity with the poor. It was a moment that brought together not just Catholics, but the wider Christian family, reflecting a commitment to ecumenical collaboration. Pope Leo reaffirmed this commitment, noting the work of the Vatican’s Commission of New Martyrs in partnership with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
The pope’s message was one of hope as well as remembrance. He described the witness of the martyrs as “a hope filled with immortality” because it continues to spread the Gospel and stands as a prophecy of the victory of good over evil. He quoted the words of Abish Masih, a Pakistani boy killed in an attack on a Catholic church, who had written in his notebook: “Making the world a better place.” This dream, Pope Leo said, should inspire Christians today “to bear courageous witness to our faith, so that together we may be leaven for a more peaceful and fraternal humanity.”
Andrea Riccardi, vice president of the Vatican commission, explained at a recent briefing that the full list of martyrs’ names would not be released at this time due to ongoing security concerns in certain parts of the world. However, he provided a breakdown of the cases added to the commission’s records. Riccardi stressed that the commission’s work is entirely separate from the process of beatification and canonization, which considers martyrs for possible sainthood, underscoring that the effort is about memory and witness rather than formal recognition.
The event drew attention from media outlets worldwide, with gallery coverage published and shared on the day of the commemoration, as noted by News3. The gathering was not only a tribute to the dead, but a call to the living—to remember, to stand in solidarity, and to work for a world where faith is not a cause for violence, but a source of hope and unity.
As the service concluded, the basilica echoed with prayers and the shared resolve of those present. Pope Leo’s words lingered: “Just as in the first centuries, so too in the third millennium, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians.” In a world still marked by religious intolerance and violence, the memory of these martyrs stands as both a warning and an inspiration, urging all people of goodwill to defend the dignity and freedom of every person, regardless of creed.
The Vatican’s ongoing documentation of modern martyrs, and its commitment to ecumenical unity, serve as a testament to the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity. For those gathered in Rome—and for Christians around the world—the stories of these men and women are not just tales of suffering, but of hope, courage, and a love that refuses to be silenced.