BREAKING Pope Leo XIV Brings 6 People Closer to Sainthood and Recognizes a Miracle of Mother Maria a Foundress
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Pope Leo XIV Advances Causes for Canonization: Two New "Blesseds" Announced
Pope Leo XIV has officially cleared the way for the beatification of two religious figures and recognized the "heroic virtues" of four others. Following an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the Pope authorized decrees acknowledging a 20th-century martyrdom in Guatemala and a miraculous healing in Italy.
Soon to be Beatified: The New Martyrs and Miracles
The following individuals have met the requirements for beatification (the final step before sainthood):
Fr. Augusto Rafael Ramírez Monasterio (Martyr): A Franciscan priest from Guatemala City, Fr. Monasterio was ordained in 1967. While serving as a pastor in Antigua during the Guatemalan Civil War, he became a protector of the poor and marginalized. Despite facing torture and death threats, he continued his ministry until he was abducted and killed by soldiers on November 7, 1983. The Vatican officially recognizes his death as martyrdom "in hatred of the faith."
Mother Maria Ignazia Isacchi (Miracle): The Italian founder of the Ursulines of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Asola. The decree recognizes a 1950 miracle attributed to her intercession: the sudden and "unexplainable" recovery of Sister Maria Assunta Zappella from a severe, tubercular-related abdominal illness following a nine-day prayer vigil (novena).
Four New "Venerables" Recognized
| Name | Background | Legacy |
| Nerino Cobianchi | Italian Layman (1945–1998) | A farmer and scout leader who dedicated his life to youth ministry and international charity work, even while battling terminal pancreatic cancer. |
| Sr. Crocifissa Militerni | Italian Religious (1874–1925) | Known for her service to the sick and elderly in Calabria, she was instrumental in establishing nursery schools for the poor. |
| Sr. Maria Giselda Villela | Brazilian Carmelite (1909–1988) | Affectionately called Mãezinha ("Little Mother"), she was a spiritual guide to many despite living in a cloistered convent. |
| Sr. Maria Tecla Relucenti | Italian Superior (1704–1769) | A pioneer of the Pious Worker Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, she focused on religious education and the formation of women. |
What This Means
The recognition of martyrdom for Fr. Monasterio and the miracle for Mother Isacchi means that dates for their Beatification ceremonies will be set soon. For the four new Venerables, the next step toward sainthood will be the verification of a miracle attributed to their intercession.
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2026/01/22/0060/00123.html
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