First Venezuelan saint: Pope Francis approves canonization of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández

ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 25, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

Although he remains in critical condition in Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis continues to work. On Monday evening, after the doctors reported a “slight improvement,” the pontiff received at the hospital the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

The reason for the visit was announced today: The Holy Father authorized the decrees designating five persons as servants of God and approved the canonization of Venezuelan Blessed José Gregorio Hernández and Italian Blessed Bartolo Longo.

After the unexpected visit to the hospital, the second that Pope Francis has received — he met privately with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni last week — these two blesseds are on their way to canonization. The pontiff has also decided to call a consistory for both canonizations, although the exact date has not been determined.

Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, the ‘doctor of the poor’

The Venezuelan blessed, known as “the doctor of the poor,” dedicated hours to serving those most in need. In fact, he died after being run over by a car on June 29, 1919, while crossing the street to buy medicine for an elderly woman.

Pope Francis dedicated a catechesis at a September 2023 general audience to this layman and future saint, noting that “charity was the North Star that guided” his existence. He also described him as “a good and joyful person with a cheerful disposition, endowed with a marked intelligence.”

Born Oct. 26, 1864, in the small rural town of Isnotú in Trujillo state, Venezuela, he was for Pope Francis a saint who “to monetary wealth preferred that of the Gospel, spending his existence helping those in need.”

The Holy Father also praised Hernández’s enthusiasm and apostolic zeal, which came from grace and intimacy with God.

He was beatified April 30, 2021, in the church at La Salle school in Caracas during a Mass celebrated by the apostolic nuncio in Venezuela at the time, Archbishop Aldo Giordano.

Blessed Bartolo Longo, from spiritualist to ‘apostle of the rosary’

Blessed Bartolo Longo was an Italian layman and lawyer, and founder of Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine in Pompeii, Italy. A fervent catechist and man dedicated to assisting those most in need, he is recognized as one of the 20th century’s greatest propagators of devotion to the holy rosary.

In his youth, Bartolo became involved in the world of militant atheism, which led him to spiritualism, infected by the anti-Christian trends of his time. He continued to live like this until he finally let God touch his heart, returning to the Christian faith in a definitive way.

In his conversion process, the Virgin Mary played a decisive role, to the point that she would become the source of inspiration for his life. It is no coincidence that Bartolo was called “the man of the Virgin” by St. John Paul II.

Pope Francis approves ‘offering of life’ of 2 servants of God

In addition, Pope Francis has recognized the offering of the life of servant of God U.S. Army Chaplain Emil Joseph Kapaun, a diocesan priest, born April 20, 1916, in Pilsen, Kansas, and died May 23, 1951, in the Pyoktong prison camp in North Korea.

He also confirmed the offering of the life of the Servant of God Salvo D’Acquisto, a layman who was  born in Naples on Oct. 15, 1920, and died in Palidoro, Italy, Sept. 23, 1943. D’Acquisto sacrificed himself to save the lives of 22 people and was shot by the Nazis.

Three new venerables: Spanish priest, Italian priest, Polish laywoman

Pope Francis also recognized the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Michele Maura Montaner, diocesan priest and founder of an order of sisters dedicated to prayer and making Communion hosts. He was born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Sept. 6, 1843, and died there on Sept. 19, 1915.

The Holy Father also recognized the heroic virtues of Servant of God Didaco Bessi, a diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Rosary, born Feb. 5, 1856, in Iolo, Italy, and who died there on May 25, 1919.

Finally, the Holy Father recognized the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Kunegunda Siwiec, a laywoman, born May 28, 1876, in Stryszawa-Siwcówka, Poland, and who died in the same city on June 27, 1955.

The approval of the heroic virtues of these servants of God means that from now on, they can be called venerable for having lived a life of faith, hope, and charity to a heroic degree. Following the decision by Pope Francis, the new venerables are awaiting a miracle performed through their intercession to proceed with their beatification.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262423/first-venezuelan-saint-pope-francis-approves-canonization-of-dr-jose-gregorio-hernandez