The Salesians Jan Świerc and eight companions and the priests Jan Bula and Václav Drbola: they are the new blessed included today, Saturday 6 June, in the history of the Church. Their stories of martyrdom cross two different countries – Poland and the Czech Republic -, but equally united by the drama of two regimes, Nazism and Communism, which fell on them between the 40s and 50s of the last century.
The beatification rites were presided over in Krakow by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and in Brno by Jesuit Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. In the homilies, the call to the courageous testimony of faith, brotherhood and peace offered by the new blessed.
Cardinal Semeraro in Krakow for nine Salesian martyrs of Nazism
by Isabella Piro
Cardinal Czerny in Brno for two priests who were martyrs of communism
by Francesco Ricupero
