Czech Priests Martyred by Communism Honoured Ahead of Beatification

Czech priests Jan Bula and Václav Drbola were honoured on May 20 during the Blessed Martyrs Under Communism conference in Rome, which highlighted the persecution of Christians under Communist regimes. The event took place ahead of their beatification on June 6 at the Brno Exhibition Centre and marked the final stage of a process lasting more than 20 years.

Both priests were executed by the Communist regime in former Czechoslovakia during the 1950s, after the state launched a campaign to suppress the Catholic Church and bring religious life under government control following the Soviet model.

Father Jan Bula, born in 1920 near Moravské Budějovice, was ordained in 1945 and served in Rokytnice nad Rokytnou. He became respected for his pastoral work and dedication to young people. In 1951, he was arrested and falsely linked to the Babice political trials despite having no involvement in the crimes. After brutal interrogations and a politically motivated trial, he was sentenced to death and executed in Jihlava on May 20, 1952. Before his execution, he wrote farewell letters expressing forgiveness and trust in God. Following the fall of communism, he was officially rehabilitated, and his beatification cause opened in 2004.

Father Václav Drbola, born in 1912 in South Moravia, served in several parishes before becoming pastor in Babice in 1950. He actively defended Catholic organizations and worked closely with young people despite growing repression from the Communist authorities. Like Bula, he was falsely accused of anti-state activity and condemned in a show trial. He was executed in Jihlava on August 3, 1951. In 2011, his beatification cause was joined with that of Bula.

Sources:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-05/cardinal-czerny-reflects-on-blessed-martyrs-under-communism.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NewsletterVN-EN

https://www.buladrbola.cz/en