Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has praised Christians who have lost their lives for their faith, describing them as witnesses whose courage can help the Church reflect the light of Christ in a world affected by selfishness, oppression and violence.
The Pope made the remarks on Wednesday morning in the Vatican while addressing participants in the conference titled “21st Century: A New Age of Martyrs?” The event was organised by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and its Commission for New Martyrs, Witnesses of the Faith.
The conference was held on Tuesday at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome. It brought together testimonies and reflections on contemporary martyrdom, examining different geographical settings and the various forms of Christian witness seen in the present time.
Pope Leo explained that the term “new witnesses of the faith” refers to a wider group than those whose causes for beatification are currently being examined or those already officially recognised as Blessed or Saints.
The Commission for New Martyrs, established by Pope Francis in 2023, is responsible for collecting testimonies about people who have died for Christ, independently of the formal canonical process. Pope Leo said this work helps ensure that their examples are not forgotten.
He noted that these witnesses come from different historical, political and geographical contexts and gave their lives in fidelity to the Gospel. Many were killed because they opposed injustice and abuses of power, including those carried out by criminal organisations.
The Pope also explained why the Church uses the broader expression “witness of the faith”. In some cases, it may not be possible to establish that those responsible for a person's death were directly motivated by hatred of the Christian faith.
For this reason, the Commission's work is historical and educational rather than juridical. Its focus is on the faithfulness and actions of the person who died, particularly whether that person remained faithful to Christ and continued an evangelical commitment until death.
Pope Leo said the lives of these witnesses show a form of Christian courage rooted in perseverance, love and fidelity. He stressed that their example does not seek confrontation, but responds to conflict through meekness.
The Pope also pointed to the importance of ordinary Christian witness. In societies marked by indifference, he said, quiet acts of faith and what he described as “holiness next door” can become meaningful forms of witness, including for people who are deeply distrustful.
He said the witnesses of the faith did not promote an ideology, but demonstrated their beliefs through their daily lives. Their credibility, he explained, came from the consistency between what they said and how they lived, sometimes leading to the ultimate sacrifice.
Pope Leo said those who gave their lives for justice, truth, peace and freedom have contributed to the hope of a renewed world. He invited everyone to play a part in this commitment and described it as a “workshop of hope.”
The Pope concluded by thanking the participants for their service and imparting his Apostolic Blessing.