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Pope Leo XIV to Canonize Seven New Saints This October
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV will canonize seven new saints from four continents in a historic ceremony this October.
In a heartfelt video message ahead of World Mission Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called on the global Church to pray for and support missionaries, especially those working in remote and difficult conditions.
The Pope emphasized the importance of religious freedom, warning that when religious freedom is denied, the human person is deprived of the capacity to respond freely to the call of truth.
One future saint, once part of a satanic cult, converted dramatically and became a major promoter of the Holy Rosary in Italy, offering a message of radical redemption.
Pope Leo XIV will lead the canonization ceremony of seven saints, including two young laymen from the 20th and 21st centuries, who will be the first saints of his pontificate.
The Pope greeted over 80,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, sharing his joy before the start of the solemn ceremony.
Pope Leo XIV will also make a pilgrimage to the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, marking a significant Marian appearance of his pontificate.
The Vatican announced the patron saints for World Youth Day Seoul 2027, highlighting figures known for missionary zeal, martyrdom, and youthful holiness.
Cardinal Ernest Simoni presented Pope Leo XIV with a relic of Albanian martyrs who suffered persecution under a brutal regime, in a deeply emotional moment.
The Pope will also visit France, where he will be the first to venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, a relic long believed to be the seamless robe worn by Christ during his Passion.
Pope Leo XIV concluded a weeklong Vatican gathering on the challenges facing families, held 10 years after Pope Francis published his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
What this adds
Pope Leo XIV's call for prayer and support for missionaries underscores the ongoing challenges faced by religious communities worldwide.
The pilgrimage to Genazzano and the veneration of the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil highlight the Pope's commitment to Marian devotion and Christian unity.
The canonization ceremony and the Vatican gathering on family challenges reflect the Pope's focus on promoting religious freedom and addressing contemporary issues within the Church.
Background
Pope Leo XIV called on the global Church to pray for peace and support missionaries in remote areas, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and the role of saints.
What's confirmed
- “This is a major first, just as (Pope) Leo XIV will be the first pope to behold it.” The Holy Tunic of Argenteuil has been venerated as Christ’s tunic in France for more than 1,200 years.
What's still developing
- “Our communication must be accompanied by prayer,” he said.
- VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The greatest risk in life is to waste it by not seeking to follow God’s plan, Pope Leo XIV said, proclaiming two new saints — two young laymen of the 20th and 21st centuries.
- “They encourage us with their words: ‘Not I, but God,’ as Carlo used to say. And Pier Giorgio: ‘If you have God at the center of all your actions, then you will reach the end.'” Before canonizing the first saints of his pontificate, Pope Leo greeted the more than 80,000 faithful who had gathered early in St. Peter’s Square because he wanted to share his joy with them before the start of the solemn ceremony.
- The most anticipated return: Leo XIV returns today to the embrace of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano The Pope makes a pilgrimage this September 7 to the historic Marian shrine, on an official trip that rekindles the deep devotion that marked his first steps after his election Today, September 7, on the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Pope Leo XIV is making one of the most significant Marian appearances of his pontificate by returning to the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano.
- Today’s liturgical celebrations reach their climax at 6:00 PM, when the Pope presides over the Holy Eucharist at the sanctuary, which has been cared for for centuries by the Order of Saint Augustine.
- The pope will lead the prayer from the Lourdes grotto in the Vatican Gardens at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, with participating shrines joining via livestream.
- Described by the Vatican as “successful” and without complications, the procedure aims to treat the Pope’s condition, and he is currently recuperating in the hospital’s care.
- The Vatican press office conveyed that during this intimate ceremony, the Pope expressed his gratitude to the healthcare workers for their dedicated service.
- Archbishop John Wester urged the faithful to develop an “appreciation for the gift of water” amid major ecological challenges in the region.
- The Holy Father described clean water as a “blessing” but noted that 25% of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water.
- “Together, let us reflect on our kinship with our waters and how we are responsible for protecting, conserving, and restoring them,” he said.
- The Holy Father said Mass in the historic plaza on the feast of Corpus Christi. | Credit: Vatican Media Young flower girls surround Pope Leo XIV during a Eucharistic procession at the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid, June 7, 2026.