Pope Francis to Canonize Armenian Genocide Martyr Blessed Ignatius Maloyan By the decision of Pope Francis, Blessed Ignatius Maloyan, a martyr of the Armenian Genocide, will be canonized, according to the Vatican’s official news site. Blessed Ignatius Maloyan was born on April 19, 1869, in the city of Mardin. At the age of 14, he joined the clerical community of the Monastery of Bzommar in Lebanon and was ordained in 1896, receiving the name Ignatius. In 1910, he was appointed Archbishop of Mardin for the Armenian Catholic Church. During the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Maloyan and hundreds of Armenian Christians were arrested by Ottoman authorities. Despite brutal torture, he refused to convert to Islam or renounce his faith. On June 11, 1915, he was executed along with over 400 members of his community. Witnesses recounted that before his death, he forgave his persecutors and proclaimed, “I have full confidence in God; I am innocent.” Maloyan was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 7, 2001, recognizing his martyrdom in odium fidei — in hatred of the faith. His upcoming canonization marks a significant moment for the Armenian Catholic Church and the global Armenian community, honoring his enduring legacy of faith, courage, and sacrifice.