Canonization of the Blessed Martyrs of Damascus

In St. Peter's Square on October 20, 2024 — World Mission Day — Pope Francis canonized the Martyrs of Damascus. These new saints of the Catholic Church include eight Franciscan friars and three lay Maronites. On July 9, 1860, these eleven men gave up their lives for refusing to renounce their faith. During his homily at the Canonization Mass, Pope Francis noted, "These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service."

The new saints of the Order of Friars Minor and the Maronite Catholic Church are: Manuel Ruiz López, Carmelo Bolta Bañuls, Engelbert Kolland, Nicanor Ascanio Soria, Nicolás María Alberca Torres, Pedro Nolasco Soler Méndez, Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, Juan Jacob Fernández, Francis Massabki, Mooti Massabki, and Raffaele Massabki.

For additional information about the Church's newest saints, see https://www.ofm.org/en/canonization-of-the-blessed-martyrs-of-damascus.html.