Pope declares Slovak girl shot by Soviet will be martyr

Anna Kolesárová was 16 years old when she was shot dead by a Soviet soldier after refusing sexual intercourse during the Second World War. However, her legend lives on to this day, with Tuesday seeing Pope Francis approve a decree of martyrdom for this young Slovak girl from the village of Vysoká nad Uhom. This was reported by the press department of the Holy See. On November 22, 1944, Anna hid with her father and brother in a cellar from Soviet troops who were liberating Slovakia at the end of the war. When a soldier searched their home, Anna prepared food for the soldier but refused his sexual advances, even when threatened. She sought protection, running to her father and brother, but was shot twice by the Soviet soldier and died. After the war, the newly formed socialist government of Czechoslovakia banned any mention of the incident, and forbade gatherings at her grave site.