Pope Leo XIV To Canonize Two Venezuelan Saints in October
People hold images of Blessed Carmen Rendiles (L) and Jose Gregorio Hernandez. X/ @ElNacionalWeb
June 13, 2025 Hour: 11:29 am
Previously, President Maduro asked the Pope for the swift fulfillment of the canonizations of Hernandez and Rendiles.
On Friday, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will preside over the canonization ceremony of two Venezuelan saints, lay physician Jose Gregorio Hernandez and nun Carmen Rendiles, on Oct. 19.
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On May 8, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked Leo XIV for the “swift fulfillment” of the canonizations of Hernandez and Rendiles, which had been approved by the late Pope Francis in February and March.
The ceremony officiated by Pope Leo XIV will also include the canonizations of Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Mardin, Turkey, Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan; layman Peter To Rot of Papua New Guinea; Italian nuns Vincenza Maria Poloni, founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, and Maria Troncatti of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; and Italian layman Bartolo Longo.
The Venezuelan church created a commission to organize national celebrations for the canonization of Hernandez and Rendiles. The commission will also lead campaigns to highlight their virtues and share their life stories. The “Saints for All” campaign will include cultural and educational initiatives, health projects, and posters featuring both saints that will be distributed across the country.
Rendiles, born in Caracas on Aug. 11, 1903, and who died on May 9, 1977, founded the Servants of Jesus. She was beatified on June 16, 2018, after a miracle was approved involving the healing of a Venezuelan doctor in July 2003.
Hernandez was beatified on April 30, 2021, after Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to him: the recovery of Yaxury Solorzano Ortega, a young girl who was shot in the head during a robbery and declared beyond medical help by doctors.
The text reads, “Caracas’ Archbishop Raul Biord celebrated the announcement of the canonization date of Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez and Mother Carmen Rendiles, scheduled for October 19 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome. ‘This is the best news for Venezuela, the best news in our entire history: we have two saints,’ the Archbishop said.”
On Friday, in response to the Vatican’s announcement, the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry issued the following message:
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela celebrates with deep joy and gratitude the decision announced by His Holiness Pope Leon XIV to canonize the physician of the poor, Jose Gregorio Hernandez, and the exemplary Mother Carmen Rendiles, on 19 October 2025.
This announcement is a recognition of the lives of two humble souls who walked among those most in need with love, dedication and deep faith. Jose Gregorio, the saint of the people, is a symbol of humanity, science with conscience and commitment to the most vulnerable. Mother Carmen, a woman dedicated to service, education and tenderness, is a reflection of the luminous face of the Gospel made life.
President Nicolas Maduro Moros recognizes the decisive role of Pope Francis, whose closeness to simple peoples and love for Venezuela paved the way for this gesture of universal brotherhood after years of popular cry and prayer.
His sowing of sensitivity and justice in the Church made it possible for us to celebrate this historic step today. From now on, the soul of Venezuela is preparing for that sacred day in which our popular spirituality will be embraced by the universal Church.”
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – FM
