The year 2024 saw the violent deaths of 13 Catholic missionaries and pastoral workers worldwide, according to the annual report by Fides, the Rome-based news agency of The Pontifical Mission Societies. These individuals, who included eight priests and five laypeople, were committed to serving their communities in the spirit of Christ’s mission, often in contexts marked by conflict, poverty, and injustice.

While the Church does not formally designate all these individuals as martyrs, their lives and deaths bear powerful witness to their faith and dedication to the Gospel. As Pope Francis said in his Angelus on the Feast of St. Stephen, “God continues to work miracles, through them, changing hearts and saving men and women.”

The numbers reported by Fides do not include the death of Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants, at lhiala, along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, Nigeria, hours after Pope Francis honored the first Christian martyr on Boxing Day.

A Tragic Global Reality

In 2024, Africa and the Americas recorded the highest number of pastoral workers killed, with six deaths in the former and five deaths in the later. The victims were not high-profile figures but people who quietly lived their faith in everyday life, often working in challenging environments to support their communities.

  • Africa: Six men were killed, including two in Burkina Faso, one in Cameroon, one in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and two in South Africa.
  • Americas: Five were killed, with deaths reported in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil.
  • Europe: Two deaths occurred, one in Poland and one in Spain.

Though Nigeria didn’t make the list produced by Fides this year, it is worth mentioning that, for the past three years, Africa’s most populous nation is considered the world’s most dangerous place for a Catholic priest- or any Christian missionary. Armed gangs locally known as “bandits” — which target Christians — were making 2024 the worst year for security in the region’s recent history. In November, the “bandits” had kidnapped — and released — three Catholic priests.

While comprehensive data has not been given for 2024 yet, between September 2022 and August 2023 alone, 21 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, the bishops’ conference said. Many remain missing.

Their Stories: Courage and Sacrifice

Among the 13 were individuals like Edmond Bahati Monja, a journalist and coordinator of Radio Maria in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Edmond’s work brought him face-to-face with the violent realities of armed conflict in North Kivu. He was shot dead near his home, likely targeted for his investigative work exposing the violence of armed groups in the region. His death highlights the dangers faced by those committed to truth and justice in volatile areas.

In Honduras, Juan Antonio López, a lay leader and advocate for social justice, was murdered shortly after publicly denouncing connections between local government officials and organized crime. López’s legacy as a man of faith who courageously defended the rights of the poor underscores the risks faced by those who stand up for justice in regions plagued by corruption and violence.

As Fides reported, López’s murder is part of a growing repression against human rights activists in Honduras. Pope Francis stressed the importance of protecting those who work for justice during the Angelus prayer on September 22, honoring the lay leader. “I join in the grief of this local Church and in the condemnation of all forms of violence,” the Pope stressed. “I am close to all those who see their basic rights trampled upon, as well as to those who work for the common good and in this way respond to the cry of the poor and the earth.”

Screenshot shows an image of Juan Antonio López, who was shot and killed in his native Honduras. The image was shared by Parroquia San Isidro Labrador Tocoa during the transmission of López’s funeral Eucharist on September 16, 2024. (Screenshot Parroquia San Isidro Labrador Tocoa)

Witnesses to Hope

Reflecting on the sacrifices of these missionaries last Thursday, on the feast of St. Stephen, Pope Francis reminded us that their lives, though cut short by violence, are seeds of hope and transformation. “These brothers and sisters may also seem to be failures, but today we see that it is not the case,” he said. “The seed of their sacrifices, which seems to die, germinates and bears fruit.”

Blessed Christian de Chergé, a martyred Trappist monk in Algeria, captured this spirit in his last testament, written before his death in 1996: “For this life lost, totally mine and totally theirs, I thank God… I want this ‘THANK YOU’ and this ‘GOODBYE’ to be a ‘GOD-BLESS’ for you, too.”

Can you help make their efforts easier?

Since 2000, 608 missionaries and pastoral workers have lost their lives, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who bring the Gospel to the peripheries of the world. Their witness challenges the global Church to stand in solidarity with missionaries and local churches in mission territories.

As the Pontifical Mission Societies, we honor their sacrifices by continuing our mission to support those who risk their lives to share Christ’s love. Join us in praying for the repose of their souls and the safety of all missionaries who work in difficult and dangerous circumstances. And as the year comes to an end, consider providing material support to these brave men and women.