Pope declares heroic virtue of eight prospective saints

Pope Francis receives in audi-
ence Cardinal Angelo Becciu,

Prefect of the Congregation for
the Causes of Saints, and authorizes
the promulgation of decrees regarding
eight causes for canonization
The decrees advance the causes of the
following eight individuals on their

path to eventual sainthood by declar-
ing:

• The martyrdom of the Servants of
  God Pilar Gullón Yturriaga and 2 Lay
  Companions, killed in odium fidei (in
  hatred of the Faith) in Pola de Somiedo
  (Spain) on October 28, 1936;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Augustine Tolton, Diocesan Priest;
  born in Brush Creek (United States of
  America) on April 1, 1854 and died in
  Chicago (United States of America) on
  July 9, 1897;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Enzo Boschetti, Diocesan Priest;

born in Costa de’ Nobili (Italy) on No-
vember 19, 1929 and died in Valcamon-
ica (Italy) on February 15, 1993;

• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Felice Tantardini, Brother of the

Pontifical Institute for Foreign Mis-
sions; born in Introbio (Italy) on June

28, 1898 and died in Taunggy (Myan-
mar) on March 23, 1991;

• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Giovanni Nadiani, a lay convert
  of the Congregation of the Presbyters
  of the Most Holy Sacrament; born in
  Santa Maria Nuova (Italy) on February
  20, 1885 and died in Bergamo (Italy) on
  January 6, 1940;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Rosario of the Visitation (born:
  Maria Beatrice Rosario Arroyo),
  Founder of the Congregation of the
  Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary;
  born in Molo (Philippines) on February
  17, 1884 and died there June 14, 1957;
• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Maria Paola Muzzeddu, Founder of
  the Society of the Daughters of the Most
  Pure Mother; born in Aggius (Italy) on

February 26, 1913 and died there on Au-
gust 12, 1971;

• the heroic virtues of the Servant of
  God Maria Santina Collani, professed

Sister of the Institute of the Sisters of Mer-
cy; born in Isorella (Italy) on March 2,

1914 and died in Borgo d’Ale (Italy) on
December 22, 1956.
With the promulgation of the decrees
of martyrdom and of heroic virtue, the

Servants of God are granted the ti-
tle “Venerable”. The next stage in the

“causes”, would be beatification, fol-
lowed ultimately by canonization.