Pope: Martyrs of Chimbote a call to ecclesial unity, mission, fidelity to Christ

Pope Leo XIV has issued a message to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the beatification of the Martyrs of Chimbote, Blessed Michał Tomaszek, Zbigniew Strzałkowski, and Alessandro Dordi, highlighting their enduring witness of unity, mission, and pastoral charity.

Addressing the Church in Chimbote and all who join in thanksgiving, the Pope expressed gratitude for the universal devotion that continues to surround the three missionary priests, whose lives and deaths remain a source of fidelity for the Church in Peru, Poland, Italy, and beyond.

In his message, the Holy Father recalled how the three priests immersed themselves in the daily life of the communities they served, offering the sacraments, strengthening catechesis, and supporting works of charity amid contexts marked by poverty and violence.

Their decision to remain with their people during a time of grave danger culminated in their 1991 killing “in hatred of the faith.” Pope Leo XIV noted that their diverse backgrounds, cultures, and spiritual traditions did not divide them, but instead converged into a unified testimony to the Gospel, rooted in a shared love for the most vulnerable.