Rome: Pope Leo XIV will preside over a solemn ecumenical ceremony on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, commemorating Christians of the twenty-first century who have been killed or persecuted for their faith. The ceremony, titled “Ecumenical Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith of the Twenty-first Century,” will take place on Sunday, 14 September, at the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls, and will include representatives from various Christian Churches and ecclesial communities.
The event is organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and its Commission of New Martyrs Witnesses to the Faith, a body established in 2023 by Pope Francis to identify and honor contemporary Christian witnesses and ensure their stories are preserved for future generations. Speaking to the Ecumenical Joint Working Group of the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, emphasized that the commemoration “will give visible expression to the conviction that the Church is already one in the blood of her martyrs.”
At a press briefing earlier this week, Archbishop Fabio Fabene, President of the Commission of New Martyrs, highlighted the significance of documenting modern witnesses of the faith. “Our research embraces all Christian denominations, since the vitality of baptism unites all who have given their lives for Christ,” he said. Referring to the concept of the “ecumenism of blood” coined by Saint John Paul II, the Archbishop added, “The Church is already united, and Pope Leo hopes that the blood of these martyrs will be a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love.”
Professor Andrea Riccardi, Vice-President of the Commission, provided a geographic overview of contemporary martyrdom. He noted that Christians continue to die worldwide: from the Americas, where organized crime and environmental exploitation claim lives; to Europe, where missionaries are targeted abroad; the Middle East and North Africa, where Eastern Christians face persecution; and Asia, including victims of attacks like the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka. He highlighted sub-Saharan Africa as the continent where Christians suffer most, citing jihadist violence and ethnic-political conflicts.
“Christians continue to die across the globe,” Riccardi said. “Though the circumstances may change, they die as witnesses of the Gospel passionate for God and their communities, authentic servants of humanity, and courageous proclaimers of faith.”
Monsignor Marco Gnavi, Secretary of the Commission, explained that the commemoration would take the form of a Liturgy of the Word, with Pope Leo presiding and 24 representatives from diverse Christian denominations participating. “This liturgy represents the Christian oikoumene seeking to be permeated by the legacy of martyrdom,” he said. Testimonies from some martyrs will be included, offering a powerful reminder of their sacrifice.
Msgr Gnavi emphasized that the ceremony is both a tribute and a call to unity. “Being side by side while the martyrs speak of their lives through their deaths is a profound encouragement toward unity within ourselves and across the human family we long to build in love,” he noted. The commemoration continues a tradition inaugurated by Pope St John Paul II during the Great Jubilee in 2000, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to remembering those who gave their lives for faith, hope, and charity.
This ceremony underscores the Vatican’s ongoing dedication to honoring contemporary martyrs while fostering ecumenical dialogue and unity among all Christians worldwide.