Nine Salesian Martyrs Beatified in Krakow

Nine Salesian Martyrs Beatified in Krakow
“A Light of Hope in the Darkness of War”

(ANS – Krakow – June 6, 2026) – Nine Polish Salesian priests, victims of Nazi persecution during World War II, were beatified this morning at the St. John Paul II Shrine in Kraków. Presiding at the Mass on behalf of the Holy Father, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, described them as “a true seed of peace and fraternity in an age so dark and violent.”

The new Blesseds – Fr. Jan Swierc and 8 companions – died between 1941 and 1942 as a result of torture, beatings, and extreme hardship suffered in the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Dachau. Following the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, persecution was unleashed with particular severity against the Catholic Church.

Card. Semeraro described that period as “a dramatic page in the nation’s history.” Yet, he emphasized, the celebration was not intended to commemorate the sorrow of those events, but rather to give glory to Christ, borne witness to by the 9 priests, “sons of St. John Bosco,” who “like Christ and with Christ gave their lives.”

Martyrs Known to the Young Karol Wojtyla

The beatification enriches the already numerous ranks of Polish saints and blesseds, among them St. John Paul II – archbishop of Krakow and later Supreme Pontiff – and St. Faustina Kowalska, who from Poland spread thruout the world the powerful message of Divine Mercy.

Card. Semeraro also recalled the Venerable Servant of God Jan Tyranowski, the spiritual mentor with whom the young Karol Wojtyla took an active part in the life of the nearby parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Debniki, entrusted to the Salesians. Several of the newly beatified priests carried out their pastoral ministry there. St. John Paul II himself wrote about them in his book Gift and Mystery.

Faithful to the Salesian Charism

In his homily, the cardinal highlighted the Salesian charism embodied by Fr. Swierc and his companions. Their vocation was expressed thru concrete dedication to the education of young people and care for the poor and the suffering. Like Don Bosco, they saw in every child “a beloved sheep, precious in the eyes of the Lord.”

In the face of anti-religious hatred, violence, and injustice that raged during the last century, the 9 Blesseds did not flee. Instead, they remained faithful to their calling until death, shedding their blood as a sign of peace.

An Appeal to the Young

The beatification, Card. Semeraro continued, represents a threefold invitation. 1st, it is addressed to young people, “the future of society and the living present of the Church,” in whom the Church places her trust.

In today’s world, he observed, freedom, happiness, and success are often detached from truth, responsibility, and sacrifice. The ideals offered may appear easy and immediate, promising much yet leaving the heart empty. Christ, by contrast, makes life “beautiful and great,” bringing to fulfilment humanity’s deepest desires.

He therefore urged young people to open their hearts to Christ, especially in moments of uncertainty, confusion, and loneliness. “The Lord does not call us to renounce our dreams,” he said, “but to purify and enlighten them,” so that life may become full, authentic and capable of self-giving.

Encouragement for Salesians and the Faithful

The 2nd invitation was directed to the Salesians of Don Bosco. Card. Semeraro expressed the hope that the legacy of the new Blesseds would enable every priest to respond generously to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Quoting St. John Paul II, he exhorted them: “Do not be afraid. Do not let yourselves be frightened by the vertigo of a holy priestly life.”

The 3rd and final appeal was addressed to all the faithful. In an age marked by “digital loneliness,” where virtuality can create the illusion of genuine relationships thru ever more sophisticated means, holiness consists above all in listening to God’s will without yielding to weariness or discouragement. What is required, he said, is to learn anew to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd, in order to belong to him more fully and to make courageous choices as true disciples of Christ and his Cross.

A Sign of Peace Amid Today’s Wars

In conclusion, Card. Semeraro turned his gaze to the present historical moment, “once again marked by the sadness and cruelty of war.” In this difficult context, the 9 Salesian martyrs beatified today bear witness to “the gift of peace,” reminding the world that even in the darkness of history there are always those capable of bringing “a light of hope, love, and fraternity.”