Today, on October 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized Armenian Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six others during a solemn canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Maloyan was martyred during the 1915 Armenian Genocide after refusing to renounce his Christian faith, Saint Ignatius Maloyan chose—and made—the ultimate sacrifice rather than submit to forced conversion to Islam.
The ceremony marked a historic day for the Armenian people and the Catholic Church worldwide, as the Pope raised seven new saints to the altars on World Mission Sunday, reports Vatican News. Archbishop Maloyan, of Mardin of the Armenian Catholics, was among those proclaimed a saint in one of the most significant moments in the history of the Armenian Catholic Church.
Attendance, Armenian Representation & Diplomacy
Thousands of faithful from around the world gathered in St. Peter’s Square to witness the historic canonization ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and other high-ranking guests and dignitaries. Pope Leo XIV personally greeted and welcomed them during the Mass, offering words of blessing to all present.
An Armenian prayer was sung during the ceremony in honor of Saint Ignatius Maloyan, adding a deeply emotional and spiritual moment for Armenians across the world.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was represented by Archbishop Khajag Parsamyan, while Bishop Mesrop Sargsyan attended on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, reflecting unity among the Armenian Churches during this sacred celebration.
Following the canonization ceremony, Prime Minister Pashinyan briefly interacted with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and a private conversation between Prime Minister Pashinyan and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was planned at the Vatican, underscoring the significance of the occasion at both a religious and diplomatic level. Later, the Prime Minister attended a luncheon held in honor of the canonization of Saint Ignatius Maloyan, joined by religious and political leaders from several nations.
Papal Homily
During the Mass, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the power of faith amid persecution, reminding Christians to keep the light of faith in Christ burning through prayer and perseverance. Referring to the seven newly canonized saints—including Saint Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez, Maria Troncatti, José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, and Bartolo Longo—the Pope said: “Today we have before us seven witnesses, the new Saints, who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning. Indeed, they themselves became lamps capable of spreading the light of Christ.”
The Pope reminded the faithful that while the world possesses great material, cultural, and artistic treasures, their true meaning is lost without faith. He urged Christians to sustain their bond with God through prayer, saying: “Just as breathing sustains the life of the body, so prayer sustains the life of the soul. Faith, in fact, is expressed in prayer, and authentic prayer lives on faith.”
The Pope continued, emphasizing that when believers face pain, violence, hatred, or war, Christ is already present—on the cross for us and with us.
“There is no cry that God does not console; there is no tear that is far from His heart,” he said.
As he concluded his homily, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the seven new saints—especially those martyred for their faith—would guide the world toward holiness, saying: “Faith on earth sustains the hope for heaven.”
The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Ignatius Maloyan
Saint Ignatius Maloyan, born Shukrallah Melkon (also known as Shoukrallah Maloyan) on April 15, 1869, in Mardin (present-day Turkey), entered the Armenian Catholic Monastery at Bzommar, Lebanon, in 1883 at the age of 14. He viewed the monastery as the “hope of the nation” and its garden as the “hope of Armenia.” Bzommar, the seat of the Armenian Catholic See since 1749, trained him in theology, philosophy, prayer, and scripture. Fluent in Armenian, Arabic, English, French, Italian, and Turkish, he was ordained a priest in 1896 under the name Ignatius and served in Cairo, Alexandria, and Constantinople before returning to Mardin.
From 1897 to 1910, he served in Alexandria and Cairo, earning the respect of clergy and faithful alike for his humility and devotion. In 1911, a synod of bishops in Rome elected him Archbishop of Mardin, and he was consecrated later that year in October.
At the time, Mardin was a diverse Anatolian center, home to Syrian Catholics, the Jacobite (Syrian Orthodox) Patriarchate, Chaldean and Armenian Catholic bishoprics, and a significant Muslim population. Despite its cosmopolitan character, Mardin would soon become a site of unspeakable tragedy during the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
On April 30, 1915, Turkish forces surrounded the Armenian Catholic Archbishop’s residence in Mardin, falsely accusing it of hiding weapons. Soon after, Ottoman authorities raided his parish church, confiscated archives, and again falsely accused the bishopric of concealing weapons. On June 3, 1915, Archbishop Maloyan and 27 prominent Armenian Catholics were arrested by agents of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)—the ruling party that orchestrated the genocide—followed by the detention of numerous clergy and believers. He was tortured and pressured to convert to Islam, but he refused, declaring his unwavering faith in Christ.
During his imprisonment, Maloyan was further tortured by Ottoman police chief Mamduh Bey, who demanded that he embrace Islam. The Archbishop refused once again, declaring his readiness to endure suffering for his faith. He encouraged his flock to remain steadfast in Christ, blessing bread and distributing it among them as a final act of faith and communion before their execution.
Eyewitnesses testified that Maloyan was beaten severely and even had his toenails torn out. Before being deported, he was allowed to bid farewell to his mother. He asked her for shoes two sizes too large to conceal his swollen, battered feet—an enduring symbol of dignity amid suffering.
On June 11, 1915, near Diyarbakir (Tigranakert), Mamduh Bey personally shot and killed Archbishop Maloyan after a final demand to renounce his faith. Before his death, Maloyan declared: “I consider the shedding of my blood for my faith to be the sweetest desire of my heart, because I know perfectly well that if I am tortured for the love of Him who died for me, I will be among those who will have joy and bliss, and I will have obtained to see my Lord and my God up there.”
He was executed along with 417 Armenians and Syriacs, including 16 priests and several nuns, and was 46 years old.
His death came just weeks after he had received an Ottoman firman (decree) honoring him on April 20, 1915, four days before the mass arrest of Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople that marked the genocide’s beginning.
Maloyan’s spiritual testament called for unwavering faith in the face of persecution. His martyrdom became a symbol of resilience for Armenian Catholics and all who suffered during the Armenian Genocide—the first genocide of the 20th century.
From Beatification to Canonization
Pope John Paul II beatified Archbishop Maloyan as a martyr for the faith on October 7, 2001, at St. Peter’s Square, recognizing his heroic sacrifice during the Armenian Genocide. In March 2025, Pope Francis signed the decree for his canonization, paving the way for his inclusion in the official canon of saints—an acknowledgment of his enduring legacy of faith and courage.
Today, Pope Leo XIV’s canonization of Saint Ignatius Maloyan affirms his eternal place among the saints and his lasting impact as a light of faith amid darkness.
Historians emphasize that Maloyan’s life and death reflect the horrors of the genocide, which claimed over a million Armenian lives, as well as Syriacs and Greeks. Despite the immense loss, survivors rebuilt their lives in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, and Arabia, where many were welcomed by members of the Al Saud family.
Notably, the official biography of Saint Ignatius Maloyan on the Prime Minister’s website omits any reference to his martyrdom during the Armenian Genocide of 1915—a detail that underscores the continuing importance of historical truth and remembrance.
A Day of Faith, Sacrifice, and Hope
The canonization of Saint Ignatius Maloyan stands as a solemn tribute to a life of faith, courage, and devotion. It is not only a historic day for the Armenian Catholic Church, but also a profound moment for all Armenians, whose ancestors endured the same persecution Maloyan faced with steadfast faith.
The ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, attended by world leaders, clergy, and thousands of faithful, resonated deeply with Armenians everywhere. Through prayer, song, and unity, the event honored not only Saint Ignatius Maloyan but the memory of all Armenian martyrs who gave their lives for faith and homeland.
Through his life and martyrdom, Saint Ignatius Maloyan remains a radiant beacon of hope—a reminder that even amid suffering and evil, the spirit of the Armenian people remains unbroken, and faith in God endures.
