Here’s a country-wise overview of martyrs currently on the path to sainthood—that is, individuals recognized as Servant of God, Venerable, or whose causes have been officially opened—organized by their country of origin or significance:
India
- 35 Martyrs of Kandhamal (Odisha) – Catholic men and women killed during anti-Christian violence in 2008. Their cause for beatification has been officially opened by the Vatican.
Nigeria
- Vivian Uchechi Ogu – A 14-year-old layperson martyred in 2009 for defending her chastity. Declared Servant of God in October 2023. Her cause is now advancing.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi – A government worker recognized by Pope Francis as a martyr for refusing to allow spoiled rice into the region, symbolizing his faith-driven fight against corruption. His cause toward sainthood is underway.
Syria (and Lebanon)
- Eleven Martyrs of Damascus – Eight Franciscan friars (mainly Spanish and one from Austria) and three lay Maronites murdered in 1860 for refusing to renounce their faith. The cause for their canonization has been accepted by the Vatican, moving them closer to sainthood.
Uganda
- M πtera and Amans – Early Catholic missionaries in Uganda. Their cause, begun in 2016, has reached the stage of “Servant of God.” Additionally, Msgr. Aloysius Ngobya and Sister Amadeo Byabari of Masaka Diocese were declared Servant of God in 2013.
Italy
- Elia Comini – A Salesian priest executed by Nazis in 1944 and declared Servant of God. His cause for beatification has been formally introduced.
Germany
- Father Richard Henkes – A Pallottine priest martyred at Dachau in 1945. A decree recognizing his martyrdom has been issued, a significant step toward beatification.
France
- Jacques Hamel – A priest murdered during the 2016 terrorist attack in Normandy. His cause was opened in April 2017, with the usual five-year waiting period waived by Pope Francis. He is now Servant of God.
Summary Table
| Country | Martyrs / Candidates | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| India | 35 Martyrs of Kandhamal | Cause opened |
| Nigeria | Vivian Uchechi Ogu | Servant of God |
| DR Congo | Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi | Recognized as martyr |
| Syria/Lebanon | Eleven Martyrs of Damascus | Cause accepted |
| Uganda | Mapeera, Amans; Ngobya, Byabari | Servant of God |
| Italy | Elia Comini | Servant of God |
| Germany | Richard Henkes | Beatification process begun |
| France | Jacques Hamel | Servant of God |
21 Egyptian Coptic Christians beheaded by ISIS in Libya in February 2015 (often called the 21 Martyrs of Libya) were not in the list I shared earlier.
Recognition by the Coptic Orthodox Church
The 21 Martyrs of Libya were canonized as saints by the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria shortly after their martyrdom in 2015.
Their feast day is February 15, and they are fully venerated as saints in the Coptic Church.
They even have a church and shrine dedicated to them in al-Our, Minya (their home village), which houses their relics.
Why They Don’t Appear in the “Awaiting Sainthood” List I Shared
The list I gave you earlier is specific to Catholic causes of sainthood (under the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints).
Since the 21 Martyrs are already canonized in the Oriental Orthodox tradition, they are not “awaiting sainthood” in their Church—they are already saints.
The Catholic Church recognizes their martyrdom and Pope Francis has spoken of them as “our saints” in an ecumenical sense. However, there is no formal Catholic canonization cause because they belong to another apostolic Church.
Ecumenical Significance
Pope Francis in 2015 called them “martyrs of all Christians”, emphasizing their witness transcends denominational lines.
In 2023, the Vatican included the 21 Martyrs in the Roman Martyrology (official list of saints honored liturgically by the Catholic Church)—a rare ecumenical gesture.
This means:
In the Coptic Church → They are already canonized saints.
In the Catholic Church → They are liturgically honored as martyrs, but no separate canonization process is needed.
So, the reason they weren’t in my earlier list is because they’re already saints in their own tradition and not “awaiting sainthood” in the Catholic process.