 The Catholic Church has recognized several of those killed in the Cristero War as martyrs, including the Blessed Miguel Pro, a Jesuit who was shot dead without trial by a firing squad on November 23, 1927 under false charges of involvement in an assassination attempt against former President Álvaro Obregón but really for his priestly activities in defiance of the government.His beatification occurred in 1988.On May 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized a group of 25 martyrs from the period.