By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“We admire these brothers and sisters of ours as stars shining in the darkness of selfishness and oppression. They help the Church to reflect more fully the light of Christ the Lord, so as to point humanity today towards the path that leads to the civilization of love.”
Pope Leo XIV expressed this when addressing participants in the Vatican on Wednesday morning at the Conference, titled, ’21st Century: A New Age of Martyrs?’, organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and the Dicastery’s Commission of the New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith.
The Conference took place on Tuesday at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome and provided an opportunity for reflection and study on the phenomenon of contemporary martyrdom, through testimonies and contributions focusing on different geographical contexts and the many forms of Christian witness in our time.
The Commission
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.
The Commission, established by Pope Francis in 2023, Pope Leo reiterated, has the task of gathering testimonies concerning those who have lost their lives for Christ, independently of the canonical process, so that their example may not be lost.
“These are brothers and sisters,” he insisted, “who, in diverse geographical, historical and political contexts, have given their lives for the Gospel.”
Witnesses of the faith
Pope Leo went on to insist 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 those whom we are pleased to call “new witnesses of the faith.’”
The Holy Father recalled that many of them are killed through abuses of power or by criminal organizations because, as Christians, they oppose their injustices in the name of the Gospel.
“The concept of “witness of the faith,” he said, “was formulated precisely in order to embrace and honour complex historical situations in which the motivation of the perpetrators cannot be explicitly attributed to “hatred of the faith”.”
From this perspective, the Pope explained, the work of this recently established Commission is historical and educational in nature, rather than juridical, focusing attention on the disposition of the victim rather than on the motives of the persecutor.
In other words, he added, consideration is given to the fact that the victim remained faithful to Christ in carrying out his or her evangelical commitment and did so unto death.
Manifesting heroically the Christian way of life
“In these witnesses of the faith,” Pope Leo underscored, “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, the one certainty capable of offering profound peace to those who believe in him.”
“In them,” he continued, “the Christian way of life is manifested heroically: it never seeks confrontation, but rather disarms it through the power of meekness.”
The witnesses of the faith, the Holy Father clarified, do not propose an ideology, but show a faith lived out in daily life, noting that 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,” he said, “become significant forms of witness, capable of challenging everyone, even those who are most distrustful.”
Reflect God’s light and serve humanity
With this sentiment, Pope Leo expressed once more the Church’s admiration for these witnesses, who help reflect the Lord’s light and serve as guides for humanity.
“By giving their lives for justice, truth, peace and freedom,” the Holy Father said, “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.”
In this sense, he invited, “We are all called to make our contribution to this horizon of commitment, to this workshop of hope.”
Finally, Pope Leo XIV concluded by thanking those gathered for their precious service and by imparting his Apostolic Blessing. – Vatican News
