1988day.year
Pope John Paul II canonizes 117 Vietnamese Martyrs.
Pope John Paul II canonized 117 Vietnamese Martyrs, honoring centuries of faith and sacrifice amid persecution.
On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II formally declared 117 Vietnamese Catholics as saints, in a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica. The group, known as the Vietnamese Martyrs, spanned persecutions from the 17th to the 19th centuries under various Vietnamese regimes. Their canonization honored those who suffered and died for their Christian beliefs in the face of hostile policies. The ceremony highlighted the universal nature of the Catholic Church and its respect for global faith communities. Pilgrims from Vietnam and around the world flocked to Rome to witness the historic event. The recognition brought renewed attention to the legacy of Christianity in Southeast Asia. It also fostered dialogue between the Holy See and the Vietnamese government on religious freedom.
1988
Pope John Paul II
117 Vietnamese Martyrs