Pope clears way for beatification of 70 Spanish, Mexican martyrs

Published: 2004-06-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II cleared the way for the beatification of 70 Spanish and Mexican martyrs. The group of martyrs, mostly religious men and women, were killed during periods of great anti-church persecution during the 1920s and 1930s in Mexico and during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The causes for beatification were published June 22 along with decrees of miracles that cleared the way for four others to be beatified. The 64 martyrs from Spain and six martyrs from Mexico do not need a miracle attributed to their intercession in order to be beatified. However, a miracle must be recognized by the Vatican in order for them to become saints. Among the Mexican martyrs to be beatified was the lay social activist and lawyer, Anacleto Gonzales Flores, who sought to promote nonviolence in the Catholics' resistance against brutal government persecution. He died in 1927.

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