Pope Leo XIV: The New Martyrs Reflect Christ's Light in the World

Pope Leo XIV addressed participants of the conference titled "The 21st Century: A New Age of Martyrs?" on September 16, 2026, emphasizing the importance of modern martyrs in reflecting the light of Christ. The conference was organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints and the dicastery's Commission for the New Martyrs, taking place at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome.

During his remarks, Pope Leo XIV described the modern martyrs as brothers and sisters who shine like stars in the darkness of selfishness and oppression. He noted that their testimonies help the church to reflect Christ's light more clearly, guiding humanity toward a civilization of love.

The commission, established by Pope Francis in 2023, aims to collect testimonies of those who have lost their lives for Christ, regardless of the canonical process. Pope Leo highlighted that their focus is on the victims' faithfulness to Christ in their evangelistic mission, even unto death.

The Pope emphasized that the concept of "witness of faith" was formulated to honor complex historical situations where the motives of the perpetrators cannot be directly attributed to hatred of the faith. He pointed out that many modern martyrs are killed by abuse of power or criminal organizations because they oppose injustices in the name of the Gospel.

Pope Leo XIV remarked that the heroic expression of the Christian way of living is evident in these witnesses. He stated that their endurance in doing good and their loyalty until the ultimate sacrifice draw strength from the victory of the slain Lamb over evil. He noted that they do not seek confrontation but disarm it through the power of gentleness.

He urged that in cultural contexts marked by indifference, everyday holiness and quiet heroism serve as significant forms of witness that challenge everyone, even the most skeptical. The Pope concluded by expressing the Church's admiration for these witnesses who help reflect the Lord's light and serve as signposts for humanity, calling all to contribute to the workshop of hope.