2026 De Margerie Lectures on Christian Reconciliation and Unity
“Christian Martyrdom and the Unity of the Church,” a two-lecture series with Dr. Jeremy Bergen.
When Pope Francis heard about the 21 Copts killed by ISIS in Libya in 2015, he said this: “It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts, or Protestants. They are Christians!… Their blood confesses Christ.” He was tapping into a powerful intuition. There is something in the stories of Christian martyrs—both those killed centuries ago and those killed much more recently—that might inspire, instruct, and draw together otherwise divided Christians.
In the first lecture, we examine the basic claim that a history of martyrdom serves as a resource for ecumenism. By exploring the stories and legacies of some particular martyrs, we can see how unity and solidarity might be expressed, but also some of the challenges and tensions. In the second lecture, we look at one major barrier—the history of Christians killing Christians. During the Reformation, for example, the execution of fellow Christians was justified on theological grounds, and some of those killed are honoured as martyrs by some churches. How do we reckon with this history in ways that do justice to the past, and promote reconciliation and unity in the future?
- Lecture 1: The Ecumenism of Blood: Solidarity in Trying Times
We examine the basic claim that a history of martyrdom serves as a resource for ecumenism. By exploring the stories and legacies of some particular martyrs, we can see how unity and solidarity might be expressed, but also the challenges and tensions.
Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7:00 pmCampion College (U of R), 3825 Lee Gren Avenue, Regina
- Lecture 2: Christians Killing Christians: Reconciling Violent Pasts and Conflicting Martyrdoms
We look at one major barrier — the history of Christians killing Christians. During the Reformation, the execution of fellow Christians was justified on theological grounds, and some of those killed are honoured as martyrs by some churches. How do we reckon with this history in ways that do justice to the past, and promote reconciliation and unity in the future?
Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 pm
St. Thomas More College (U of S), 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon
The two lectures complement each other and will be available both in-person and via livestream at: https://bit.ly/Demargerie2026
