Saint Joseph Catholic Church

In his overview of Spanish canonization causes, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro said that the 3,344 candidates are included in 53 causes of martyrdom (48 from the 20th century), 292 causes of heroic virtue, one cause for the offering of one’s life, and one for equipollent canonization. 148 of the candidates have been declared venerable.

Cardinal Semeraro added:

Significant, too, is the number of causes concerning founders: 71 from religious institutes and 11 from secular institutes.

The total number of Blesseds (including those recognized via martyrdom decrees as of 2026) stands at 2,449; of these, 2,404 are martyrs from the religious persecution in Spain during the 20th century. The remaining 45 causes are based on heroic virtue and include 2 cardinals, 1 diocesan bishop, 7 diocesan priests, 4 religious priests, 2 male religious, 22 female religious, and 7 laypeople.

Cardinal Semeraro encouraged other episcopal conferences to follow the example of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which established an Office for the Causes of Saints in 2001.

“He firmly stood as a pillar of orthodox truth,” said Father Michael Banjo, secretary general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the administrative arm of the bishops’ conference. “His voice did not tickle ears but fed souls, bringing to light his episcopal motto: ‘Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati’ (Jn 18:37), which means ‘That I may bear witness to the Truth.’”

“He demonstrated always by his gentleness and quiet disposition that genuine authority in the church is not measured by power but by service and this was a result of his deep level of spirituality,” Father Banjo added.

Archbishop Akubeze was appointed founding bishop of Uromi in 2005 and archbishop of Benin City in 2011.

The Vatican newspaper drew attention to the dire situation of Sudanese civilians in and around El-Obeid, a strategic city in the nation’s civil war.

“Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to teach his disciples that they have a duty to those who differ from them in terms of religious belief and cultural tradition,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Anglican Archbishop John McDowell. “Jesus teaches that people who differ from us are not simply to be tolerated; they are to be respected, cared for and loved.”

“The targeting of the Muslim community through crude symbols and threats of violence by sinister forces undermines these Gospel principles of respect and compassion as well as freedom of religion which is a fundamental principle of a democratic society,” the prelates continued, adding:

Christians of all traditions would be aghast at the wanton destruction of Christian imagery. Likewise, we should be appalled at the provocative denigration of symbols associated with faiths that are sincerely held by others.