50 Victims of Nazis recognized as martyrs to be beatified

The official website of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints explains that these 50 venerable men all devoted their apostolate to French workers sent to Germany by the Vichy regime as part of the Compulsory Work Service. Encouraged by the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Emmanuel Suhard, they left for Germany to support them. However, the Nazis arrested them for "subversive activities" against the Third Reich. They tortured and killed them, mainly in concentration camps, according to Rome.

These French Catholics died “in hatred of the faith” — according to the formula used for martyrs — between 1944 and 1945, in various regions of Germany, as well as in Austria.

Leo XIV validated their decrees on June 20 during an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The Vatican counts four Franciscan religious, nine diocesan priests, and 19 members of the Young Christian Workers movement. In addition, 14 members of the Scouts de France movement are on the list. Three seminarians are also recognized among these “Martyrs of the Apostolate.” The eldest on the list is a sole Jesuit.

The 50 martyrs can now be beatified, as recognition of their martyrdom exempts them from the miracle usually required for beatification.

Pope Leo also approved numerous other decrees recognizing the heroic virtues, miracles, and martyrdom of numerous people from Spain, Italy, and Brazil.

Two notable groups (totaling 124 people) are martyrs of religious persecution during the Spanish Civil War.