Franciscan missionaries to be beatified in Georgia

The Catholic Church has scheduled the beatification of five Spanish Franciscan missionaries for October 31, 2026, in Savannah, Georgia. The group, known as the Georgia Martyrs, was martyred in 1597 while attempting to evangelize the Guale people along the Georgia coast.

The announcement coincides with the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The missionaries arrived in the Americas more than two decades before the Plymouth pilgrims, establishing missions and engaging with Indigenous societies, including learning local languages and customs.

In addition to the upcoming beatification, recent commemorations have focused on the legacy of St. Francis and the history of Franciscan spirituality and campus ministry within higher education.