Braniewo: In a historic moment that echoed with reverence and remembrance, the Catholic Church officially recognized the martyrdom of fifteen heroic nuns who laid down their lives for their faith during the turbulent final days of World War II. The solemn beatification ceremony took place in Braniewo, Poland, on Saturday, May 31, drawing thousands of faithful and clergy from across the globe.
Presiding over the liturgy on behalf of Pope Leo XIV was Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. In his homily, he paid tribute to the nuns’ steadfast courage and self-sacrifice, calling them “shining examples of Christ-like love in a world torn apart by hatred.”
The newly beatified women were members of the Order of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a religious congregation founded in 1571 by Blessed Regina Protmann, herself a pioneering figure in the service of the sick, the poor, and the marginalized. These nuns were martyred between January 22 and November 25, 1945, during the Soviet invasion and occupation of Poland—a period marked by brutal persecution of Christians, especially those in religious life.
Despite the immense danger posed by the occupying forces—many of whom were driven by anti-religious communist ideology—the sisters refused to abandon the children, the elderly, and the sick in their care. Choosing compassion over safety, they remained behind in their convents and hospitals to offer shelter, healing, and spiritual consolation to the most vulnerable.
Many of them endured unspeakable torture and abuse. Some were executed on the spot, while others died slowly from the consequences of their suffering. What united them was their unshakable faith and commitment to the Gospel, even when it cost them their lives.
Cardinal Semeraro highlighted this in his message: “They could have fled, but they chose to stay—because their hearts were anchored not in fear, but in the mercy of Christ. In dying for others, they bore witness to the truth of love that is stronger than death.”
The Order of Saint Catherine continues its work today in various countries including Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Brazil, Togo, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, the Philippines, and Haiti, serving primarily in healthcare, education, and youth ministry.
The beatification of these fifteen martyrs is not only a recognition of their personal holiness and sacrifice, but also a powerful affirmation of the Church’s resilience under persecution. For many in Poland and beyond, this ceremony was both a moment of spiritual triumph and historical vindication.
The faithful gathered in Braniewo joined in fervent prayer and thanksgiving, witnessing the elevation of these sisters to the honor of the altars. Their lives now serve as a beacon of courage and Christian witness in an age where religious freedom remains under threat in various parts of the world.
As the Church celebrates their beatification, it also invites the global Catholic community to draw strength from their legacy—one of unwavering devotion, sacrificial love, and the eternal hope found in Christ, even amid the darkest storms of history.