A photo of three slain Franciscans is unveiled during the beatification ceremony for the slain missionaries in Chimbote, Peru, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Fathers Miguel Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski, both from Poland, and Alessandro Dordi, from Italy, were killed by Shining Path rebels in 1991. Church officials say the three are the first Catholic martyrs in Peru to be beatified. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
CHIMBOTE, Peru (AP) – Three European priests slain by the Shining Path in Peru in 1991 have been beatified in the northern city of Chimbote.
Some 30,000 people participated in the stadium ceremony on Saturday for Michael Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzalkowski of Poland and Alessandro Dordi of Italy. Italian Cardinal Angelo Amato presided.
The two Poles were slain Aug. 9, 1991 after a night Mass in the rural district of Pariacoto. Signs were hung around their necks calling them "imperialist lackeys" and both were shot in the head.
Dordi was intercepted a few miles away on a rural road as he returned from saying Mass a few weeks later. He was killed by bullets to the head and chest.
Church officials say the three are the first Catholic martyrs in Peru to be beatified.
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