Twenty missionaries were killed in 2023, giving witness to their faith. Agenzia Fides of the Vatican published once again the yearly report of missionaries who were victims of violent death across the world. Of the twenty missionaries who lost their lives, there was one bishop, eight priests, two religious men, one seminarian, one novice, and seven laypeople.In the Fides report, the word “missionaries” applies to bishops, priests, religious, seminarians, and laypeople who died violently while involved in the apostolic work of the Church.
Africa appears as the deadliest continent for missionaries where nine people were killed, followed by the Americas. Here, six missionaries were murdered, with Mexico topping the list of the countries where more missionaries were killed.
In Asia, four Catholic laypeople were murdered-two in the Philippines and the other two in Gaza. Two Filipino Catholic students were among the victims of the bombing attack on December 3, 2023, during the celebration of the Eucharist at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. The two laypeople killed were Junrey Barbante, 24, and Janine Arenas, 18, who were in charge of the liturgical animation of the chaplaincy of the University of Marawi.
Most of the twenty missionary victims were slain while serving their communities. They were not performing extraordinary actions out of the normal that could attract attention or cause jealousy. They were murdered either on their way to celebrate Mass or to carry out pastoral activities in some far-flung communities in difficult contexts marked by poverty and violence. They were victims of armed assaults along busy roads, assaults on rectories and convents where they were engaged in evangelization, charity, and human promotion.
They were well aware of their perilous situation and the dangers they faced every day. The missionaries could have abandoned the people under their care and moved elsewhere to safer places. But they did not do so as they were not mercenaries working for monetary recompense; rather, they stayed on risking their lives because of Jesus Christ, the love of the mission, and the commitment to the people they were serving.
During the Angelus on the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian community, Pope Francis remembered them: “The seed of their sacrifices, which seems to die, germinates and bears fruit, because God, through them, continues to work miracles, changing hearts and saving men and women.”
