Cosma Spessotto
The Vatican record
- 26 May 2020 — Martyrdom recognised (decree list, 2020)
Who they were
Sante Spessotto, in religion Cosma, was a professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor; he was born at Mansuè, Italy, on 28 January 1923 and was killed in hatred of the faith at San Juan Nonualco, El Salvador, on 14 June 1980. Pope Francis recognised his martyrdom on 26 May 2020.
The Dicastery's biography says he went to San Juan Nonualco, El Salvador, in 1950 and built its parish church; he was shot dead while kneeling in prayer near the tabernacle.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
The Church recognised him as a martyr in 2020.
The cause
Cosma Spessotto has been beatified; the cause continues. Favours received, and offers of help, go to the postulation, the office that carries the cause forward: Franciscans: the cause of Cosma Spessotto.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Cosma Spessotto
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatification of 22 January 2022
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - decrees published in 2020
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - Cosma Spessotto
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints — promulgated decrees (causesanti.va), summarised in our own words
- Not yet in Wikidata. Name as the Vatican spells it.
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.