July 1, 2010. The pope approved the decree to recognize the martyrdom of 26 Spanish martyrs. They are 10 Carmelites and 16 religious from the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who were killed during the religious persecution in Spain in 1936.
He also recognized the martyrdom of the Romanian Juan Scheffler, victim of communist persecution in 1952 and of three German priests, victims of the Nazi regime in 1943.
This decree is the first step toward beatification. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints proclaimed this through authorization from the pope.
On this occasion the pope also approved the declaration of the heroic virtues of Maria Carmen Albarracín, a religious Claretian who died in Barcelona in 1946.
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