Ibiza's 20 murdered Civil War priests beatified

Ibiza, Balearic Islands: the Church beatifies 20 priests murdered during the Spanish Civil War at Eivissa Cathedral on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro leads the ceremony, the first beatification held in the Balearics.

Eivissa’s bishop, Vicent Ribas, asks Semeraro, as the Pope’s representative, to add the priests to the book of the blessed. A short account of each priest’s life follows. Semeraro then reads the Pope’s letter approving their inclusion.

In his sermon, Semeraro says a martyr does not seek death but does not turn away from Christ when faith puts their life at risk. What matters, he says, is not the violence the priests suffered but the love they stayed true to.

València’s archbishop, Enrique Benavent, nine bishops, most of the clergy from Eivissa and Formentera, and Balearic government president Marga Prohens attend. An altarpiece showing the newly beatified priests is unveiled during the ceremony. It will remain in Eivissa Cathedral.

Topics: Culture

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com