Tomorrow, Sunday the 7th of September 2025, the Catholic Church will officially declare Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati died on July 4, 1925, after contracting poliomyelitis, likely from one of his visits to the sick.

Before his death, with a paralyzed hand, he wrote a note to his friend with instructions to deliver medicine to one of the poor he was ministering to.

Carlo Acutis, who passed away in 2006 when he was only 15, is set to become the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation this Sunday.

Acutis passed away after a battle with leukemia, but made a name for himself for documenting miracles online, which earned him the name “God’s influencer” and patron saint of the Internet.

However, how does one become a Catholic saint?

The process of becoming a saint in the Catholic Church, known as canonisation, is a formal and detailed procedure that involves several stages.

Here is an overview of the 4 key steps involved:

SERVANT OF GOD STAGE

Initiation of the Cause: The process begins at least five years after the candidate’s death. Although the Pope can waive this waiting period.

A local bishop investigates the candidate’s life to determine if they lived with “heroic virtue” or died as a martyr for the faith.

If the investigation is approved, the candidate is given the title Servant of God.

The next stage is the Venerable stage.

VENERABLE STAGE

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints reviews the evidence collected by the local diocese. If the Pope recognizes that the candidate lived a life of virtue, they are declared Venerable.

This title indicates that the person is worthy of respect and has demonstrated extraordinary faith and virtue.

THE BLESSED STAGE (BEAUTIFICATION)

Miracle Requirement: For non-martyrs, one miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession must be verified.

This miracle is rigorously investigated by medical experts, theologians, and the Pope.
Martyrs, however, do not require a miracle for beatification

Once beatified, the candidate is given the title Blessed.

Veneration: Public veneration is permitted, but it is usually limited to the candidate’s local diocese, region, or religious community.

For the next stage, Canonisation, a second miracle, after beatification is required.

THE CANONISATION STAGE (SAINTHOOD)

This second miracle, occurring after beatification, undergoes the same rigorous investigation process, and once verified, the candidate gets canonised and is declared a saint.

And this is who the canonisation process unfolds.

Mary, Queen of All Saints, pray for us!!

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