Dicastery for the Causes of Saints records 1,700 Christian martyrs

A Vatican commission has recorded more than 1,700 Christians who died for their faith, with an additional 100 to 150 names expected to be added during 2026. The figures were released during an international conference held in Rome on September 15 and 16, organized by the Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith.

The commission, which Pope Francis created in July 2023, operates under the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to gather information on Christians killed for the Gospel. The group compiles a catalogue to preserve the memory of these individuals, including Catholics and Christians from other traditions, even if no formal canonization process begins.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, explained that the catalogue is not a way to create saints by decree. He noted that while canonization is a formal Church judgment with specific requirements, this registry serves to recover the testimony of those whose deaths may never lead to beatification or canonization. The goal is to ensure their witness is not lost to collective memory due to the absence of a formal canonical process.