Pope Leo XIV canonizes the "doctor of the poor", José Gregorio Hernández, Venezuela's first saint

Vatican.– In a historic ceremony held this Sunday in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV canonized the Venezuelan José Gregorio Hernández, known as the “doctor of the poor”, giving Venezuela its first saint and a reason for hope amid the prolonged economic and social crisis the country is going through.

Before a crowd of approximately 70,000 people, Leo XIV proclaimed Hernández a saint, along with Mother Carmen Rendiles Martínez, founder of a Venezuelan religious order, and five other blesseds, including the layperson Peter To Rot of Papua New Guinea, murdered in 1945 for defending monogamous marriage.

The mass, described by the pontiff as a "great celebration of holiness," turned the Vatican square into a mosaic of Venezuelan flags and shared emotions. Thousands of pilgrims waved the red, blue, and yellow colors, which mixed with the uniforms of the Swiss guards, in an atmosphere of jubilation and spiritual fervor. José Gregorio Hernández, born in 1864 in Isnotú, Trujillo, was a doctor, scientist, and philanthropist who dedicated his life to providing free care to the most needy. His deep faith and vocation for service made him, over more than a century, a symbol of solidarity, humility, and Christian devotion for millions of Venezuelans.

You can also read: Venezuela thanks Pope Leo XIV for having canonized its first two saints

The Vatican recalled that Pope Francis, from his hospital last February, approved the canonization of Hernández without requiring the formal process of confirmation of miracles, citing the "widespread veneration of the doctor-saint among the faithful." This decision was considered an exceptional gesture and recognition of the popular faith of the Venezuelan people. Celebration in Venezuela

While the canonization mass was taking place in Rome, thousands of Venezuelans gathered in Caracas, in front of the church Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria, where an eight-meter statue of the new saint rests. There, the faithful followed the ceremony through a giant screen, amidst prayers, songs, and tears of emotion.

President Nicolás Maduro publicly thanked Pope Francis for his role in the canonization, noting that the gesture represents "a blessing for the Venezuelan people" and asked to pray "for the new saint and for Pope Francis."

A legacy of faith and hope With this canonization, José Gregorio Hernández officially becomes the first Venezuelan saint, a title that confirms his central role in the spirituality of the country. His figure, which transcends creeds and social classes, is seen as a symbol of national unity in times of adversity. "May the example of Doctor Hernandez inspire Venezuela to heal the wounds of the soul and to rebuild hope from faith and solidarity," said Pope Leo XIV at the conclusion of the ceremony, which was also one of the last public acts of the pontiff before his retirement.