Religious Figure. A Mexican priest who was martyred in 1927, he is now known as Blessed Miguel Pro, or simply Blessed Miguel, having been beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988. Born in Mexico in 1891, in early adulthood he became a Jesuit priest. However, it was an unfortunate time to become a priest, since Catholicism had been outlawed in Mexico during a period of political upheaval. Public worship had been restricted, churches were closed, and any priest celebrating the sacraments of the Catholic Church faced severe penalties. In addition to being a priest, he was an artist and a poet, and was known for his cheerful sense of humor and love of practical jokes. He helped people retain a sense of humor despite the wave of anti-Christian persecution. He secretly celebrated the Mass, performed his priestly duties and aided the poor. He helped everyone he could, including some of the Communists who were hostile to the church. Law enforcement officials were constantly watching him, so he had to perform his church rites in secrecy. He was exiled to the United States for a while (and also went to Grenada and Belgium, where he was ordained), but returned to Mexico and was eventually arrested and sentenced to death on false charges. Miguel Pro was executed publicly with a group of other prisoners. A stay of execution came through for him, but was ignored, and he went before the firing squad. Pictures of the execution were taken, because the government officials wanted to show how cowardly priests would act when faced with death. However, Father Pro very bravely stepped up before the firing squad, rejected the blindfold he was offered, forgave his executioners, stretched out his arms and boldly shouted, "Viva Cristo Rey!" (Long live Christ the King!). Then he was riddled with bullets. The volley of gunfire did not kill him, so a single shot was fired into his temple. Because he had faced death so bravely, there was an order to suppress the execution photos, but some of them got out, and can be viewed on the Internet today. The funeral for Father Pro was huge, with people openly praying the rosary and shouting "Viva Cristo Rey!" as the procession passed through the streets. During the beatification process, the remains of Miguel Pro were moved to a new location, (the Church of the Holy Family, Mexico City) where they remain in the sanctuary. His comment during his life that he would try to help people from beyond the grave if he could inspired many people visit his shrine, a site which continues to increase in popularity.