VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican-based news agency, Fides, released its annual report on Catholic missionaries murdered in 2023, highlighting the common experience of living in areas plagued by violence. According to the report, many of the missionaries did not engage in attention-grabbing actions, yet they faced the daily dangers of their commitment to Christianity.

The report, issued by the news agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, revealed that 20 pastoral workers were killed in 2023, slightly more than the 18 missionaries who died violently in the previous year. The victims included one bishop, eight priests, two religious brothers, one seminarian, one novice, and seven laypeople, according to Fides.

Among those listed was Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, who was found dead in his bedroom after being shot multiple times. Another victim was U.S. Father Stephen J. Gutgsell, who died after being stabbed in the rectory of his parish in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.

Fides reported that the majority of missionaries killed were in Africa, with nine being murdered, followed by the Americas with six, Asia with four, and one in Europe. The organization also highlighted the case of a Palestinian mother and daughter who were shot by an Israeli army sniper in Gaza, and the sacristan of a parish in southern Spain who was killed with a machete.

The report shed light on the risks and dangers faced by missionaries who carry out their work in areas of conflict and violence, emphasizing their dedication to their Christian commitments despite the potential threats. The data presented by Fides serves as a testament to the sacrifices made by these individuals and the challenges they encounter in their mission to serve their communities.