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 collect information on Christians killed for the Gospel. The group compiles a catalogue to preserve the memory of these individuals, including Christians from various traditions beyond the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery, clarified that this catalogue is not a list of saints created by administrative decree. He explained that while canonization is a formal Church judgment requiring specific criteria, the catalogue serves to recover the testimony of those whose deaths may not lead to beatification or canonization.