Pope Leo XIV addressed participants in the Vatican on Wednesday morning at a conference titled “21st Century: A New Age of Martyrs?” The event was organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and its Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith. The gathering took place on Tuesday at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome.
Defining the New Witnesses
The Pope explained that this designation refers to a broader category distinct from those currently undergoing beatification or those already officially inscribed as saints. The Commission, established by Pope Francis in 2023, has the task of gathering testimonies concerning those who have lost their lives for Christ, independently of the canonical process. Pope Leo insisted that these individuals are “brothers and sisters” who, in diverse geographical, historical, and political contexts, have given their lives for the Gospel.
The Holy Father noted that their testimony tells us that our own time, dominated by a culture of power, unlimited force, and the unceasing development of weapons systems, is also a time that witnesses the heroism of these new witnesses of the faith. Many of them are killed through abuses of power or by criminal organizations because they oppose injustices in the name of the Gospel. The concept of “witness of the faith” was formulated precisely to encompass and honor complex historical situations where the motivation of the perpetrators cannot be explicitly attributed to “hatred of the faith.”
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From this perspective, the work of the Commission is historical and educational in nature, rather than juridical. The focus is on the disposition of the victim rather than on the motives of the persecutor. In other words, consideration is given to the fact that the victim remained faithful to Christ in carrying out their evangelical commitment and did so unto death.
A Faith Lived Out
In these witnesses of the faith, it is evident that perseverance in doing good and fidelity unto the supreme gift of self in love have drawn their strength from the victory of the Lamb who was slain over evil. In them, the Christian way of life is manifested heroically: it never seeks confrontation, but rather disarms it through the power of meekness.
The Pope clarified that these witnesses do not propose an ideology, but show a faith lived out in daily life. Their credibility arises from the coherence between words and actions, a coherence often carried to the point of supreme sacrifice. In cultural contexts marked by indifference, the “holiness next door” and silent heroism become significant forms of witness, capable of challenging everyone, even those who are most distrustful.
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By giving their lives for justice, truth, peace, and freedom, the witnesses of the faith have contributed effectively to the coming of the new heavens and the new earth, which we confidently await through the mercy of God. Pope Leo invited attendees to make their contribution to this horizon of commitment and this workshop of hope.
Reflecting Christ’s Light
The Pope welcomed those gathered and pointed out that this designation is intended to indicate a broader category, distinct both from the martyrs whose causes of beatification are currently underway and from those who have been officially inscribed in the catalogue of the Blessed and the Saints. By recognizing these individuals as “stars shining in the darkness of selfishness and oppression,” the Holy Father emphasized their role in helping the Church reflect the light of Christ more fully.
