ATICAN CITY, Oct 20, 2025 – In a historic ceremony attended by more than 55,000 faithful, Pope Leo XIV officially canonised seven new saints at St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrating their lives of faith, sacrifice, and redemption.
Among those declared saints were Saint Ignatius Maloyan, the Armenian archbishop martyred during the 1915 genocide, and Saint Peter To Rot, Papua New Guinea’s first saint, who was killed defending the sanctity of marriage. They were joined by Saint Vincenza Maria Poloni of Italy, Saint María Carmen Rendiles Martínez and Saint José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros of Venezuela, and Saint Maria Troncatti of Italy.
One of the most striking stories was that of Saint Bartolo Longo, an Italian lawyer and former priest of Satan who returned to the Catholic faith. After his conversion, he devoted his life to spreading devotion to the Virgin Mary and founded the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii.
“Today we have before us seven witnesses, the new saints, who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning,” Pope Leo XIV said in his homily. “May their intercession assist us in our trials and their example inspire us in our shared vocation to holiness.”
As the Pope spoke, large portraits of the newly canonised saints were unveiled from the basilica’s windows, drawing emotional cheers from the crowd.
The canonisation process begins with an investigation of the candidate’s life, followed by declarations of Servant of God, Venerable, and Blessed. After two confirmed miracles or martyrdom in special cases the Pope formally declares sainthood, granting universal veneration and a feast day in the Catholic calendar.
This latest canonisation underscores the Church’s enduring recognition of those who lived with courage, compassion, and unwavering faith.
