A group of 38 Albanian Catholics, all killed between 1945 and 1974 by their country’s Communist regime, are now one step closer to sainthood. Pope Francis last month approved their beatification, a recognition that they can intercede on behalf of people who pray to them. This also marks the first time that the Holy See has officially acknowledged them as martyrs.
Though these 38 Catholics suffered for their beliefs, they were steadfast in both their faith and their commitment to the advancement of freedom in Albania. This makes the current government’s efforts to exclude Catholics from contemporary political and social life all the more unacceptable.
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