The Red Book of Chinese Martyrs

This powerful book presents documents spanning the war between the Communists and Chinese Nationalists in the mid-1940s up to 1983, shortly before the “modernization” promoted after Mao’s death. These are memoirs of those who have experienced in their own flesh how far violence of a power blinded by ideology can go, a power which, after winning its battle against armed forces, decided to exterminate its “enemies without gun”, as Mao called intellectuals, believers, and opponents. From the historical perspective these are valuable sources, especially for anyone who wants to learn about the injustices and brutality of Maoism. Only recently have non-specialists had access to autobiographical testimonies concerning the laogi, the Chinese forced labor camps.

For years ideological baggage encumbering journalism about China severly limited opportunities for hearing stories of Christian persecution and martyrdom, however, after decades of propaganda, we are finally seeing a “demythologization” of Mao, a man responsible for crimes equal to or even worse than those of Stalin and Hitler.

In this book one can see what a tragedy has befallen the Chinese people, in particular the believers. But all this has not destroyed their faith. Gerolamo Fazzini, a professional journalist, is the co-director of the monthly magazine World and Mission of PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), and an editorial writer for the daily newspaper Avvenire. An expert on international topics and religion news, he coordinates the Italian Federation of the Missionary Press which represents about forty missionary publications. He has reported on various stories in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and China. Illustrated with 16 pages of photos.

“The confessors and martyrs of the Church of China belong to Christianity as a whole, and it is our duty, as well as our right, to present their testimonies so that they might nourish the faith of Christians throughout the world.”
— From the Preface by Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-Kiun, Bishop of Hong Kong

Gerolamo Fazzini, a professional journalist, is the co-director of the monthly magazine World and Mission of PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), and an editorial writer for the daily newspaper Avvenire. An expert on international topics and religion news, he coordinates the Italian Federation of the Missionary Press which represents about forty missionary publications. He has reported on various stories in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and China.