On October 19, 2025, the heart of the Catholic world—St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City—became the stage for a momentous event as Pope Leo XIV canonized seven new saints. The ceremony, attended by thousands of pilgrims and broadcast worldwide, marked a significant chapter in the ongoing story of faith, sacrifice, and redemption within the Roman Catholic Church. As bells rang and banners of the newly canonized fluttered in the autumn breeze, the Pope’s homily set the tone for a day that would be remembered for its profound spiritual resonance and the remarkable lives it celebrated.
According to Global News, the canonization Mass began with Pope Leo XIV reflecting on a question drawn from the day’s Gospel reading: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” This question, he explained, reveals what is most precious to God—faith itself, the enduring bond of love between humanity and the divine. “Today we have before us seven witnesses, the new Saints, who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning. Indeed, they themselves became lamps capable of spreading the light of Christ,” the Pope declared, commending the seven men and women whose lives exemplified unwavering devotion.
The seven new saints—Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez, Maria Troncatti, José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, and Bartolo Longo—represent a tapestry of backgrounds and stories, each marked by courage, transformation, and service. Their canonization was not just a formal recognition but a public testament to the power of faith, even in the face of adversity and darkness.
Among the most talked-about figures was Bartolo Longo, an Italian lawyer whose early life was clouded by involvement in satanic rites before a dramatic conversion to Catholicism. As Global News reported, Longo’s journey from the occult to becoming a fervent promoter of the Rosary is a striking example of redemption. His story, once controversial, now stands as a beacon for those who believe in the possibility of profound personal transformation. “Bartolo Longo, once a practitioner of satanic rites, became a prominent promoter of the Rosary,” the report highlighted, underscoring the Church’s willingness to embrace sinners who repent and dedicate their lives to good works.
Another new saint, Bishop Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan, was recognized for his martyrdom during the Armenian genocide. Executed in 1915 after refusing to renounce his faith and convert to Islam during the mass deportations under the Ottoman Empire, Maloyan’s canonization was particularly poignant. It served as a reminder of the enduring costs of religious conviction and the Church’s ongoing commitment to honoring those who have suffered for their beliefs. “These faithful friends of Christ are martyrs for their faith, like Bishop Ignazio Choukrallah Maloyan and catechist Peter To Rot,” Pope Leo XIV said, drawing attention to the sacrifices made by those who stood firm in their convictions.
The ceremony also honored Peter To Rot, a catechist from Papua New Guinea who was martyred for defending Christian marriage and opposing polygamy during World War II. Sister Maria Troncatti, an Italian missionary nurse, was recognized for her work among indigenous peoples in Ecuador, while Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni and Sister Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez were celebrated for founding religious congregations dedicated to charity and education. José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, a Venezuelan physician known for his medical service to the poor, rounded out the group, his canonization long awaited by devotees in Latin America.
Pope Leo XIV’s homily did not shy away from the challenges and doubts that can beset believers. He warned that without faith, “man would lose all hope. Heaven and earth would remain as before, but there would no longer be hope in our hearts; everyone’s freedom would be defeated by death; our desire for life would fade into nothingness.” These words, reported by Catholic News Agency, struck a chord with those present, many of whom have experienced their own trials and moments of spiritual darkness.
In his address, the Pope drew on the parable of the persistent widow and the apathetic judge, a story from the day’s Gospel reading. The widow’s relentless pursuit of justice eventually moves the indifferent judge to act, a metaphor for the power of perseverance in faith. “The woman’s perseverance and the judge, who acts reluctantly, set the stage for a provocative question from Jesus: Will not God, the good Father, ‘grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?’” Pope Leo recounted, urging the faithful not to lose heart in prayer and to seek God even in suffering.
The canonization ceremony was the second such event presided over by Pope Leo XIV this year, following the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati on September 7, 2025. Each of these ceremonies has reinforced the Church’s message that sainthood is not reserved for the perfect, but for those who, in their own unique ways, have allowed the light of faith to shine through them. The diversity among the newly canonized—martyrs, missionaries, founders, and laypeople—reflects a Church that values a wide array of gifts and callings.
The stories of these seven saints were recounted by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro during the ceremony, offering the faithful a glimpse into the lives behind the titles. From the blood-soaked fields of the Armenian genocide to the remote villages of Papua New Guinea and the bustling streets of Naples, their journeys were as varied as the global Church they now represent. The inclusion of a former satanic cult member among the saints, as highlighted in several media outlets, sparked conversation and reflection on the Church’s capacity for forgiveness and its belief in the possibility of radical change.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his homily by calling on the faithful to emulate the virtues of the new saints: “They are evangelizers and missionaries, like Sister Maria Troncatti; they are charismatic founders, like Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni and Sister Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez; with their hearts burning with devotion, they are benefactors of humanity, like Bartolo Longo and José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros.” His words were both a celebration and a challenge, inviting Catholics everywhere to let their own lives become “lamps capable of spreading the light of Christ.”
As the crowds dispersed and the banners were lowered, the message of the day lingered: faith, perseverance, and transformation remain at the heart of the Catholic story. The canonization of these seven men and women stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith to inspire, heal, and unite across centuries and continents.
