With only two out of five popes before him canonized, the path to sainthood for Pope Francis remains uncertain, as the Church's modern processes scrutinize candidates more closely than ever before.
Will Pope Francis Join the Ranks of Saints?
Will Pope Francis Join the Ranks of Saints?
As the Catholic community mourns the passing of Pope Francis, questions arise about his potential canonization amid a changed landscape of sainthood.
In recent days, the global community has engaged in a wave of discussions surrounding the legacy of Pope Francis, following his death. Historically, popes had a clear shot at sainthood, with many being canonized shortly after their passing. Of the 266 popes who have served over nearly two millennia, 80 have been declared saints.
As the clergy conduct rigorous evaluations concerning a candidate's life and virtues, the road to beatification and canonization is detailed and deliberate. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints plays an integral role in vetting candidates, assessing their holiness and examining the miracles attributed to them. A candidate must be acknowledged as 'venerable' before progressing to beatification, which confirms one miracle. A subsequent miracle is necessary for canonization, with the pope holding the definitive authority over this process.
Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II emerged as the most recent popes to attain sainthood—a milestone achieved through Pope Francis's leadership in 2014. Historically, there was significant inertia between a pope's death and the start of their sainthood journey, averaging 262 years from 1588 to 1978. Recent papacies have accelerated this timeline, thanks in part to John Paul II’s shortened waiting period, which allowed his canonization just nine years posthumously, following a groundswell of public support.
However, complications emerged as questions lingered regarding the actions of previous popes, such as John Paul II, leading to debates over whether hurried canonizations might warrant reconsideration. The evolving relationship between canonization processes and church history continues to captivate believers and scholars alike, keeping the dialogue about Pope Francis’s legacy and potential sainthood at the forefront of Catholic discourse.
Elisabetta Povoledo is a Times reporter based in Rome, focusing on Italy, the Vatican, and the region’s culture, bringing extensive experience from 35 years in journalism.
As the clergy conduct rigorous evaluations concerning a candidate's life and virtues, the road to beatification and canonization is detailed and deliberate. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints plays an integral role in vetting candidates, assessing their holiness and examining the miracles attributed to them. A candidate must be acknowledged as 'venerable' before progressing to beatification, which confirms one miracle. A subsequent miracle is necessary for canonization, with the pope holding the definitive authority over this process.
Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II emerged as the most recent popes to attain sainthood—a milestone achieved through Pope Francis's leadership in 2014. Historically, there was significant inertia between a pope's death and the start of their sainthood journey, averaging 262 years from 1588 to 1978. Recent papacies have accelerated this timeline, thanks in part to John Paul II’s shortened waiting period, which allowed his canonization just nine years posthumously, following a groundswell of public support.
However, complications emerged as questions lingered regarding the actions of previous popes, such as John Paul II, leading to debates over whether hurried canonizations might warrant reconsideration. The evolving relationship between canonization processes and church history continues to captivate believers and scholars alike, keeping the dialogue about Pope Francis’s legacy and potential sainthood at the forefront of Catholic discourse.
Elisabetta Povoledo is a Times reporter based in Rome, focusing on Italy, the Vatican, and the region’s culture, bringing extensive experience from 35 years in journalism.
