Vatican formally recognizes 21 Coptic Orthodox killed in Libya as martyrs, sets feast day

The Vatican is formally recognizing 21 Coptic Orthodox workers, who were beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya, as martyrs with their own feast day. The move is described as a significant ecumenical gesture aimed at forging unity between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Pope Francis announced the inscription of the 21 workers, most of them Egyptians, in the Roman Martyrology, the compendium of saints celebrated liturgically in the Catholic Church, during an audience on May 11 with Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria.

During the audience, Francis kissed relics of the 21 young men that Tawadros offered him as a gift. Islamic State militants beheaded the workers on a beach in Sirte, Libya, in February 2015. A graphic video of the executions was posted online, shocking Egyptians and prompting the Cairo government to carry out punitive strikes against militant targets in Libya. The men’s bodies were recovered in 2017 and returned to Egypt, where a church was built in their hometown to honor them.

Francis told Tawadros during the audience in the Apostolic Palace that “these martyrs were baptized not only in the water and Spirit, but also in blood, a blood that is the seed of unity for all of Christ’s followers.” He said the inscription of the Coptic Orthodox martyrs in the Catholic liturgical calendar “is a sign of the spiritual communion that unites our two churches.” Honoring believers who died for their faith across church lines reflects the unity among Christians that Jesus prayed for (John 17:21).

The Coptic Orthodox Church is the largest Christian denomination in majority Muslim Egypt and was founded by the apostle St. Mark in Alexandria in the first century. It is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches with which the Vatican has relations and a process of dialogue. That dialogue began 50 years ago this week, with a historic encounter at the Vatican between St. Paul VI and Tawadros’ predecessor, Shenouda III.

Francis has frequently referred to the “ecumenism of blood” that unites all Christians in honoring martyrs of the faith. Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Vatican office responsible for relations with other Christian churches, said the inscription of modern-day martyrs of another church in the Catholic liturgical calendar is a significant first. Officials said the Vatican will likely designate Feb. 15 as the workers’ feast day, the same day the Coptic Orthodox Church honors them.

Tawadros was at the Vatican to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the meeting between the two previous popes. He joined Francis on stage during the pontiff’s weekly general audience on Wednesday. He is scheduled to celebrate a liturgy for Coptic Orthodox faithful on Sunday at St. John Lateran, Francis’ cathedral.

Speaking with reporters, Tawadros said Francis seemed genuinely pleased to receive the relics of the 21 martyrs and promised to build a special altar for them. “This is something that helps promote greater unity between the two churches,” he said.

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