Pope advances sainthood cause for women martyred in Spanish Civil War

On June 12, the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints announced that Pope Francis had moved forward the causes of canonization for eight servants of God, officially granting them the title of venerable.

Of the cases moved forward, the Somiedo martyrs of the Spanish Civil War were also named venerable.

Pilar Gullón Yturriaga, 25, Octavia Iglesias Blanco, 41, and Olga Pérez-Monteserín Núñez, 23, were martyred on October 28, 1936.

The three women, who served as Red Cross nurses in Pola de Somiedo, were raped and shot naked.