9 canonized by Pope Leo XIV, Fall 2025

“If God sends you many sufferings,

it is a sign that He has great plans for you and certainly wants to make you a saint.”

--St. Ignatius of Loyola

Introduction. Pope Leo XIV has 9 souls queued for canonization. The first 2 are planned for September, postponed from April while we mourned Pope Francis. The remaining 7 will become formal saints in October. Who are these souls? What can be learned from their lives?

1. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) of Turin, Italy was an average student who ended up studying with the Jesuits, after failing his exams. He was active in sports, mountain climbing, swimming and social justice movements opposing the rising Mussolini. He became a Lay Dominican and joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, where he interacted with many of the less fortunate. He was from an upper-class family. His mother was an artist whose works were owned by royalty. His father was a liberal politician and director of one of the oldest newspapers in Italy. Rather than live in excess, Pier was drawn to clean language, morally-responsible actions and God. During his grandma's death and mourning, he became ill with polio but said nothing out of respect. After her burial, his viral illness was so far advanced that, at age 24, he passed. A small, tasteful funeral was held for Pier; however, the streets were flooded with the thousands that he had quietly helped. All wished to pay their humble respects to their patron.

2. Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) of Milan Italy, was "God's nerd." He died at age 15 of leukemia. His remains are in St. Mary Major in Assisi, Italy. While his heart is incorrupt, his body was reconstructed in wax. Prior to his illness, he taught himself computer programming and built Milanese' church websites. He is best known for his computer database that catalogued worldwide Eucharistic miracles, see more at Carlo Acutis promotes the True Presence.

3. Sister Maria Troncatti (1883–1969) of Italy, was a missionary to Ecuador. At 21, she professed vows as a Salesian sister of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. In WWI, she nursed soldiers in the Red Cross. Caught in a deadly storm, she bartered with Mother Mary for her life in return for serving anywhere. Upon survival, she was sent to the Amazon forest area to work with Shuar tribes. She earned their trust by removing a bullet from the chief's daughter. For 44 years, she was Ecuador's "Mamacita" in education and health. She worked in schools, clinics and any hospital role that was needed. At age 86, she died in a plane crash.

4. Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni (1802-1855) of Verona, Italy. She was the last of 12 children. Nine had died at an early ages. Those who lived were boys. In a faith-filled family, she became her mother's helper. Over time, she earned a teaching degree and supported the grandchildren's care while working in her father's shop. Her spiritual director was Blessed Father Karl Steeb, who steered her toward the care of the chronically ill and elderly. In 1836, she was actively caring for cholera epidemic victims. She opened a nursing home in 1840 with 3 companions which turned into the formal religious order: the Sisters of Mercy. The home evolved into the Institute of Sorelle della Misericordia in Verona. She was found to have a cancerous tumor and died at age 53, surrounded by Fr. Steeb and her 48 nuns.

5. Bartolo Longo (1841–1926) of Pompei, Italy. Please see recent Catholic365 post: Ex-satanist priest | Blessed Bartolo Longo to be canonized 10-19-25

6. Dr. Jose Gregoria Hernandez (1864–1919) of Venezuela, was known as "the doctor of the poor." He considered becoming a priest but decided he could serve God best at the bedside of his neighbor. He never married and pushed science. To bring Venezuela into the forefront, he established 2 research institutions. He taught at Central University of Venezuela; the nation's oldest and largest institution of higher learning. He was hit by a car in 1919 while on his way to deliver medicine to a sick patient, having using his own resources. Dr. Hernandez was beatified after a church-certified healing miracle in 2017. A gunshot wound to a girl's head was healed through his prayerful intercession. She completely recovered despite a 4-hour drive to the nearest hospital and a 2-day intervention delay. Dr. Hernandez' contribution to the faith was his ability to unite God and science.

7. Sister Maria del Carmen Elena Rendiles Martinez (1903–1977) of Venezuela, was the founder of the Servants of Jesus of Caracas. Sister Elena was born without a left arm and served with a prosthesis. As a young woman, her father had plans for her future but died suddenly. Meanwhile, the French religious were in town and she applied to their order. Her novitiate occurred in Toulouse, France. After serving in France, she returned home in 1945 as Superior General of all congregation houses in Venezuela. In 1965, she founded the Servants and was elected Mother Superior. There she resided until her dead of influenza in 1977. At her death, there were 94 religious and 19 communities.

8. Archbishop Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan (1869–1915) of Armenia was tortured and murdered during the Ottoman-Armenian genocide, after repeatedly refusing to convert to Islam. At age 14, he was sent by his parish priest for theological studies in Lebanon. Upon entering the priesthood, he took the name Ignatius to honor St. Ignatius of Antioch. He encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the massacres, the clergy chose to give humanitarian relief to survivors until they were caught. Although most of the Armenian Catholics were loyal to the Ottoman government, the genocide destroyed 140,000 of the faithful. Through the heroic virtue of his martyrdom, he was beatified by St Pope John Paul II.

9. Peter To Rot (1912–1945) of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea was a married lay person, catechist and parish leader during the Japanese occupation of WWII. In response to Japanese religious oppression, Peter was restricted from religious activity. In secret, he held secret prayer and support services for the congregation. When the Japanese encouraged paganism and multiple wives, Peter became vocal. He was executed for supporting the sacrament of marriage; one man and one woman. He is known as a patron of marriage.

Prayer.

Heavenly Father,

Source of all holiness,

You raise up within the Church in every age men and women who serve with heroic love and dedication.

You have blessed Your Church through the life and ministry of these 9 faithful servants.

They have spoken well of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and loved their neighbor, some even through martyrdom.

They are true instruments of the Holy Spirit, who have touched the hearts of countless people.

Thank you for the graces you gave them, to proclaim the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity and for the salvation of souls.

All the Blesseds listed above and soon to be formal saints, pray for us.

Mother Mary, pray for us.

Jesus, we trust in you!

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