Paris: The Catholic Church on Saturday solemnly beatified nearly 200 men and women who laid down their lives for their faith during some of Europe’s darkest chapters, with major ceremonies held in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Cathedral of Jaén in southern Spain. Among them were 50 Catholics killed under the Nazi regime, whose witness of faith was formally recognized by the Church.
In Spain, 124 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War were declared Blessed during a Mass in Jaén presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. These men and women, drawn from the clergy and the laity, were killed between 1936 and 1937 amid intense anti-Catholic violence. Church officials said they were executed solely because of their Christian faith, a conclusion reached after decades of historical and theological investigation.
According to the Diocese of Jaén, the newly beatified martyrs continue to serve as a powerful testimony to forgiveness and nonviolence in the face of hatred. Andres Nájera, Delegate for the Cause of the Saints, said the inquiry process, which began in the late 20th century, focused on establishing that the victims were targeted out of odium fidei hatred of the faith rather than for political or social reasons. He stressed that their lives proclaim a Gospel message urgently needed in a world marked by aggression and intolerance.
The Spanish beatifications involved two distinct groups. One cause concerned Father Manuel Izquierdo Izquierdo and 58 companions, while the other honored Father Antonio Montañés Chiquero and 64 fellow martyrs. Revolutionary militias, driven by militant atheism and anti-Christian ideology, unleashed widespread persecution, attacking churches, killing priests and religious, and intimidating lay Catholics who openly practiced their faith.
Many of the martyrs endured brutal treatment before their deaths. Father Izquierdo suffered severe torture, while another priest, Manuel Valdivia Chica, had his hands severed before being killed. Despite the grave danger, numerous priests refused to abandon their parishes, choosing instead to remain with their communities. Some, including Father Montañés, reportedly asked to be executed last so they could hear confessions and spiritually prepare their companions for death.
Later the same day, attention shifted to Paris, where Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, presided over a historic beatification Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The ceremony honored Raymond Cayré, a diocesan priest; Gérard-Martin Cendrier, a Franciscan friar; Roger Vallée, a seminarian; Jean Mestre, a layman; and 46 companions most of whom were young Catholics murdered by the Nazi regime.
This collective beatification was the largest of its kind ever celebrated in France. Many of the new Blesseds were members of the Young Christian Workers (JOC) movement and were arrested because of their pastoral and apostolic work, which had been outlawed by the Hitler regime. They were part of the clandestine “Mission Saint Paul,” an underground chaplaincy created by French bishops to accompany workers forced into Germany under the Compulsory Labor Service (STO).
Introduced in February 1943 by the Vichy government, the STO sent hundreds of thousands of French citizens to labor in Germany. Catholic priests, religious, and lay volunteers secretly followed these workers to provide spiritual and moral support. Their activities led to their arrest by Nazi authorities, who accused them of subversion against the Third Reich.
Most of the French martyrs perished in notorious concentration camps such as Buchenwald, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Neuengamme, while others later died from the lasting effects of torture and inhumane detention. Through their beatification, the Church highlighted their quiet courage and unwavering faith, honoring them as witnesses who chose fidelity to Christ even at the cost of their lives.
The twin ceremonies in Spain and France underscored a shared message: that in times of persecution and violence, faith rooted in love, forgiveness, and service can endure beyond death and continue to inspire future generations.