“He gave everything for the poor, even his own blood. It seems to me he may be called a martyr for charity,” read one testimonial regarding Fr Malgesini.

"You can find images of his murder in churches across Latin Christendom, from Germany and Spain, to Italy and Norway. Becket was, and remains, a truly European saint," says Lloyd de Beer of the British Museum.

We will provide the opportunity for the faithful to gather as a community and pray not only for persecuted Christians – but also for the persecutors of Christians (ACN Ireland).

"Those who were killed are only the tip of the iceberg, as the list of pastoral workers or Catholics, assaulted, beaten, robbed, threatened, as well as Catholic structures vandalised or looted is long," says Fides Agency.

Fr Patrick Peyton the well known “Rosary Priest” as well as 16 martyrs killed for their faith during the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War, have been cleared for beatification.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Saint’s relics will visit Ireland on 1 - 2 October 2016 to mark the 75th anniversary of his martyrdom in Auschwitz in 1941.

Head of the Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, gives address at symposium on St Thomas a Becket at Lambeth Palace.

Catholics and Christians “are entering a time when we will need the gift of courage to stay faithful to the teachings of the Gospel”.

Christians in the Middle and Near East "endure and sustain unspeakable human suffering and degradation, intimidation and displacement" - Archbishop Michael Jackson.

"Romero saw the struggle for justice in his country as a struggle against forces that were not simply political and economic, but demonic."

“St Oliver teaches us that our lives will only make sense if we place ourselves in God’s hands and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to new life.” - Dom Aidan Bellenger

Some of those discriminated against live in countries where human rights are guaranteed 'on paper'.