On Saturday, 13 December 2025, the beatification Mass for fifty martyrs of the apostolate was held at Notre-Dame de Paris. Raymond Cayré, Gérard Martin Cendrier, Roger Vallée, Jean Mestre and their forty-six fellow martyrs were beatified.
Mass for the Beatification of Raymond Cayré, Gérard-Martin Cendrier, Roger Vallée, Jean Mestre and their 46 companions
The beatification Mass was presided over by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, in the presence of numerous bishops, priests, religious and faithful.
At the beginning of the celebration, the reading of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter formalised the proclamation of the blessed and also set their liturgical memorial on 5 May. The Holy Father thus officially recognised the martyrdom of these fifty witnesses to the faith:
“We decide, by Our Apostolic Authority, that the Venerable Servants of God Raymond Cayré, Gérard Martin Cendrier, Roger Vallée, Jean Mestre, and their forty-six companions, martyrs, who did not fear to offer their own lives to the point of shedding their blood to bear witness to the consolation and comfort of the Gospel, shall henceforth be called Blessed.”
Following this reading, the official image of the fifty martyrs was unveiled.
The 50 martyrs of the apostolate
In his homily, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich recalled that “All of them, without exception, made their lives, their activities, their imprisonment and their martyrdom a service, and what a service! They followed Jesus as true disciples, following in the footsteps of their Master. “
He invited the faithful to see in these new blesseds not only figures from the past, but intercessors and models for the Church today, called to serve without fear.
Young priests, religious, seminarians, scouts and Catholic Action activists, these men responded to Cardinal Suhard’s call by secretly joining French workers sent to Germany by the Compulsory Work Service (STO), with the mission of offering fraternal and spiritual support, despite the Nazi regime’s ban.
Arrested in 1943, many were imprisoned, tortured, deported, or died of exhaustion and disease. By proclaiming them blessed, the Church recognises their witness of charity and faith, lived to the point of giving their lives.
