(Photo: Aid to the Church in Need)A new Vatican-led investigation has revealed that over 1,600 Christians worldwide have been killed because of their faith in the past 25 years. Backed by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the study highlights the global scope of Christian martyrdom in the modern era. According to the findings, between 2000 and 2025, at least 1,624 Christians were murdered for refusing to renounce their beliefs. Dr Riccardi described the martyrs as “men and women who believed in a God who was faithful to them even in adverse circumstances". "The Church regards the memory of the martyrs not as a moment of sorrow but as hope for the future," he said.