Historic Canonization Ceremony Scheduled
Pope Leo XIV will preside over a significant canonization ceremony at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City on Sunday, October 19, 2025. During the event, seven individuals will be elevated to sainthood, representing diverse backgrounds and contributions to the Catholic Church. This marks a notable occasion for the pontiff, who was elected on May 8, 2025, as the first American Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost.
Profiles of the New Saints
The group of seven new saints includes figures from various parts of the world, each recognized for their exemplary lives and faith. Among them is Peter To Rot, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea, who will become the first saint from his nation. He was martyred during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
Another prominent figure is José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, a Venezuelan layman often referred to as the 'doctor of the poor.' He dedicated his life to serving the sick and impoverished, dying in 1919. Also from Venezuela is Maria Carmen Elena Rendiles Martinez, a nun born without a left arm who founded the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus.
The list further includes Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan, a martyred Armenian archbishop who was killed by Turkish forces in 1915. Bartolo Longo, an Italian lawyer who renounced Satanism to become 'an apostle of the rosary' and founded the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, will also be canonized.
Nuns Dedicated to Service
Three nuns known for their dedication to the poor and sick are also among those being canonized:
- Maria Troncatti, from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who worked with Indigenous populations in Ecuador in the 1920s.
- Vincenza Maria Poloni, a 19th-century Italian founder of Verona's Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, which primarily cares for the sick in hospitals.
These individuals represent a global tapestry of faith and service, with their canonization highlighting diverse paths to holiness within the Catholic Church.
Significance of the Event
The canonization ceremony, which will take place at 10:30 AM Rome time, is a culmination of a rigorous process that requires at least two verified miracles attributed to the individual's intercession, along with a life of exemplary Christian virtue. This event follows Pope Leo XIV's earlier canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati on September 7, 2025, underscoring his active pontificate in recognizing new saints.
5 Comments
Loubianka
More focus on tradition than real reform. Disappointing, frankly.
Muchacha
While the lives of these new saints, especially those who served the poor, are certainly exemplary, I often wonder about the financial cost of these grand ceremonies. Perhaps some of those resources could directly aid those in need today.
Donatello
It's wonderful to highlight individuals who dedicated their lives to service and faith, showing different paths to holiness. Still, the emphasis on historical figures sometimes overshadows the need for contemporary Catholic leaders to address pressing social and ethical challenges.
Raphael
Recognizing martyrs like Peter To Rot and Ignazio Maloyan is a powerful testament to enduring faith. Yet, it also makes one reflect on current global conflicts and the Church's ongoing role in promoting peace and preventing such atrocities.
Africa
Pope Leo XIV is making great moves. This canonization highlights faith from all corners of the globe.