Social Events · Savannah, GA
Beatification of Five 1597 Georgia Martyrs Set for Saturday in Savannah
The Catholic Diocese of Savannah will hold a beatification ceremony Saturday at the city's convention center, honoring five Spanish Franciscan friars killed during a Guale uprising in 1597. Approximately 10,000 attendees are expected, including bishops from Spain, Rome and Africa, making it only the sixth beatification ceremony held in the United States. The friars—Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodriguez, Miguel de Anon, Antonio de Badajoz and Francisco de Verascola—were recognized as martyrs by Pope Francis in January 2025 after decades of research and Vatican review. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose members include descendants of the Guale people, acknowledged the killings as tragic while noting the broader context of Spanish colonization.