On October 19, 2025, the heart of Catholicism pulsed with the hopes of a nation half a world away. In a ceremony brimming with emotion and significance, Pope Leo XIV canonized Venezuela’s first saints—Dr. José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles Martínez—at a Mass held in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. For Venezuelans facing years of economic hardship and political turbulence, the event offered not just spiritual uplift but a rare moment of national unity and celebration.
The canonization, which also included five other new saints from around the globe, was more than a religious milestone. It was a testament to the enduring power of faith amid adversity, and a nod to the resilience of a people who have struggled under crushing poverty, international sanctions, and political unrest. As reported by the Associated Press, thousands of Venezuelans made the journey to Rome, while countless more gathered in Caracas and cities across Venezuela to watch the Vatican ceremony livestreamed in public squares, waving flags and donning T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of their beloved new saints.
Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, affectionately known as the “doctor of the poor,” has long been a symbol of compassion and selflessness in Venezuela. Practicing medicine in Caracas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hernández was renowned for refusing payment from impoverished patients and frequently paying for their medicines out of his own pocket. According to Newsweek, he was also a pioneering figure in Venezuelan science, serving as a professor of practical pathology and founding the bacteriology department at the University of Caracas. His commitment to the vulnerable cemented his status as a national icon, with murals and portraits of Hernández adorning hospitals, homes, and public spaces throughout the country.
Tragically, Hernández’s life was cut short in 1919 when he was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street, having just picked up medicine for a poor elderly woman. His death only amplified his legend, and in 1996, Pope John Paul II received a petition signed by five million Venezuelans—nearly a quarter of the nation’s population—urging the Vatican to declare him a saint.
Mother Carmen Rendiles Martínez, canonized alongside Hernández, was equally revered for her devotion to service and faith. Born in Caracas in 1903 with one hand, she founded the Servants of Jesus religious order, dedicating her life to supporting the marginalized and the sick. Her image, like Hernández’s, has become a familiar sight in Venezuela and neighboring countries, depicted in vibrant murals and cherished in the hearts of the faithful.
The canonization ceremony itself was a momentous affair. Tens of thousands filled St. Peter’s Square, their anticipation palpable as Pope Leo XIV proclaimed, “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’s words, as quoted by Newsweek, resonated deeply with those present and with Venezuelans watching from afar.
The significance of the moment was not lost on the country’s leaders and public figures. Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader María Corina Machado took to social media to express the nation’s collective joy: “Venezuela today awakens blessed with its two saints, José Gregorio and Mother Carmen. They are the saints of all Venezuelans, and we know that their miracles will continue to be for the benefit of a people that wants to live united, in peace, with freedom and dignity.” Politician Edmundo González echoed this sentiment, stating, “A day of joy for Venezuelans. The canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles reminds us that the greatness of a country is measured by its capacity to serve with generosity and humility.”
For many, the timing of the canonization could not have been more poignant. As AP and UNN both reported, the ceremony unfolded against a backdrop of mounting economic and political challenges. Venezuela’s economy has been battered by a decade-long crisis, hyperinflation, and the exodus of millions seeking better lives abroad. U.S. sanctions have compounded the hardship, leaving an estimated 80% of residents in poverty. Meanwhile, tensions between Caracas and Washington have soared, with President Donald Trump recently confirming CIA covert operations in Venezuela and hinting at the possibility of U.S. military land operations. In the Caribbean, U.S. strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than two dozen people.
These external pressures have only intensified the sense of uncertainty within Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in last year despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud, has appealed to Pope Leo XIV for help in preserving peace as the nation navigates these fraught waters. The canonization, therefore, has been seen by many as a beacon of hope—a sign that, even in the darkest times, the values of compassion, service, and unity endure.
The Vatican’s decision to canonize Hernández and Rendiles also broke with tradition. As AP detailed, Pope Francis, in one of his final acts before his retirement, approved Hernández’s sainthood from his hospital room on February 24, 2025. He chose to bypass the usual requirement for a confirmed miracle, citing the “widespread veneration of the ‘doctor-saint’ among the faithful.” This rare move underscored the depth of devotion to Hernández and the unique circumstances facing Venezuela.
The ceremony also celebrated other new saints. Among them were Peter To Rot, the first saint from Papua New Guinea, recognized for his martyrdom in defense of monogamous marriage; Archbishop Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, who was killed for refusing to renounce his faith during the Armenian genocide; Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni, a 19th-century founder of a religious order; Maria Troncatti, an Italian missionary in Ecuador; and Bartolo Longo, canonized based on widespread veneration among the faithful, much like Hernández.
As Venezuelan flags fluttered in the squares and the faithful sang and prayed, the canonization of Hernández and Rendiles Martínez became more than a religious milestone. It was a moment of national healing and pride, a rallying point for a people searching for hope amid hardship. As Delsa Solórzano, president of Venezuela’s Citizen Encounter Party, aptly put it, “Today Venezuela is filled with joy. In times when our land most needs to heal, a luminous sign reaches us from the sky: Venezuela has two saints.”
For Venezuela, the elevation of these two figures to sainthood is a powerful reminder that even in times of crisis, the spirit of generosity and faith can light the way forward.
