Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has authorized the beatification of eleven clergy, including nine Polish priests who suffered martyrdom in the Nazi concentration camps of Dachau and Auschwitz, and two diocesan priests from former Czechoslovakia who were executed during the Communist regime in the early 1950s. In addition, the Pope promulgated decrees recognizing the heroic virtues of four Servants of God, elevating them to the status of Venerable.
During an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Pope confirmed that the nine Polish Salesians Jan Świerc, Ignacy Antonowicz, Ignacy Dobiasz, Karol Golda, Franciszek Harazim, Ludwik Mroczek, Włodzimierz Szembek, Kazimierz Wojciechowski, and Franciszek Miśka were martyred between 1941 and 1942 simply for their priestly vocation. Arrested following Germany’s occupation of Poland, they provided spiritual support to fellow prisoners in Auschwitz and Dachau, enduring brutal conditions and ultimately sacrificing their lives for their faith.
The two Czech diocesan priests, Jan Bula and Václav Drbola, were victims of a Communist regime that viewed their pastoral work as a threat. Father Bula, arrested in April 1951 and falsely implicated in a deadly attack on local officials, was executed in May 1952. Father Drbola, similarly imprisoned and accused, was executed in August 1951. Both priests endured violence and coercion, yet maintained unwavering faith until their deaths.
The Pope also recognized four new Venerables for their exemplary lives of faith and service. MarĂa Evangelista Quintero Malfaz, a Cistercian nun from Spain, was noted for her mystical experiences and lifelong dedication to prayer and contemplation. Angelo Angioni, a Sardinian diocesan priest, founded the Missionary Institute of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and devoted his life to pastoral, educational, and missionary work, both in Italy and Brazil.
José Merino Andrés, a Spanish Dominican, was renowned for his preaching, spiritual guidance, and work forming over 700 novices in Palencia, Spain. Gioacchino of the Queen of Peace, an Italian Discalced Carmelite friar, devoted decades to prayer, education, and sanctuary service in Varazze, inspiring the faithful through his humility, kindness, and deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
With these decrees, the Church not only honors those who gave their lives in the face of persecution but also celebrates the heroic virtues of individuals whose exemplary faith continues to inspire generations of the faithful worldwide.