Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, October 19, 2025, officially proclaimed seven new saints of the Catholic Church during a solemn canonisation ceremony at St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, before a crowd of more than 55,000 faithful. The historic event was marked by hymns, prayers, and the reading of the canonisation formula in Latin, formally recognizing the seven men and women as models of faith, sacrifice, and holiness.
The Newly Canonised Saints
Among those declared saints were:
- Saint Ignatius Maloyan, an Armenian archbishop martyred during the 1915 genocide, remembered for his unyielding faith in the face of persecution.
- Saint Peter To Rot of Papua New Guinea, the first saint from the Pacific nation, killed for defending the sanctity of marriage.
- Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni of Italy, founder of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, known for her life of charity.
- Saint María Carmen Rendiles Martínez of Venezuela, who founded the Servants of Jesus of Venezuela.
- Saint Maria Troncatti, an Italian missionary nun remembered for her work among the indigenous Shuar people in Ecuador.
- Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros of Venezuela, a physician revered for healing the poor and his deep spiritual devotion.
- Saint Bartolo Longo of Italy, a former priest of Satan who reconverted to Catholicism and became a major promoter of Marian devotion, founding the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV praised the new saints as “witnesses of faith who kept the lamp of holiness burning through love, sacrifice, and service.” As he spoke, giant portraits of the seven saints were unveiled from the windows of St. Peter’s Basilica, drawing thunderous applause and tears from the crowd.
The Canonisation Process Explained
Canonisation — the formal declaration of sainthood — is the highest recognition of sanctity in the Catholic Church. The process unfolds in four main stages:
- Servant of God: The diocesan bishop opens an investigation into the person’s life, writings, and virtue.
- Venerable: The Pope acknowledges the person’s heroic virtue, recognizing their exceptional holiness.
- Blessed (Beatification): One verified miracle (except for martyrs) is required to demonstrate the individual’s intercession after death.
- Saint (Canonisation): After a second verified miracle, the Pope publicly declares the person a saint, granting them universal veneration and often assigning a feast day in the liturgical calendar.
A Celebration of Faith and Renewal
The ceremony, which also marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Shrine of Pompeii, celebrated lives devoted to service, redemption, and steadfast faith amid persecution. Three of the newly canonised were nuns, remembered for their work with the poor and the sick, while others symbolised courage in the face of violence and moral decay.
“May their intercession assist us in our trials and their example inspire us in holiness,” Pope Leo XIV said, closing the Mass with a message of unity and hope.
The canonisation of these seven figures underscores the Church’s enduring belief that sanctity can emerge from all walks of life — from doctors and nuns to martyrs and even repentant sinners — serving as timeless reminders of faith’s transformative power.
