According to the report by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, 22 Catholic missionaries were killed in 2021
Newsroom (December 30, 2021, 3:50 PM, Gaudium Press) The annual report of the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples published today, December 30, reveals the number of Catholic missionaries killed in 2021.
In total, 22 people were killed around the world. 12 were priests, 1 religious, 2 religious sisters, and 6 were lay people.
With regard to the continents, Africa has the highest number of victims, with 10 missionaries (6 priests, 2 religious and 2 laypeople) in total, followed by America with 7 people killed (4 priests, 1 religious and 2 laypeople), Asia with 3 victims (1 priest and 2 laypeople) and finally Europe with the death of one priest.
According to data from Fides Agency, from the year 2000 to 2020, 536 were killed. For some time now the criteria used by Fides to compile the death of missionaries has not applied to the strict sense of the term, but to every baptized faithful engaged in promoting the faith.
Fides also makes it clear that it does not seek to anticipate the Church’s judgment by considering the deceased missionaries as martyrs. (FM)
Compiled by Sarah Gangl
