Photograph of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, 1917.
Guacamaya, February 25, 2025. Pope Francis has approved the canonization of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, known as the “Doctor of the Poor.” This announcement, made on Tuesday, February 25, marks a milestone in the country’s history and fills its population with joy, as Hernández will become the first Venezuelan saint.
The news has been met with great enthusiasm by the Venezuelan Catholic Church and by devotees who have venerated Hernández for decades. Following the announcement, dozens of faithful gathered at the Church of La Candelaria in Caracas, where the remains of the blessed rest, to celebrate this historic moment, according to a note from EFE.
The Archbishop of Caracas, Raúl Biord Castillo, celebrated this tribute as a recognition of “the exemplary life and heroic virtues of Hernández, who dedicated his existence to alleviating human suffering and spreading a message of love and hope,” according to a statement published by Vatican News.
Pope Francis, who signed the decree of canonization from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome while being treated for bilateral pneumonia, highlighted the heroic virtues of José Gregorio Hernández and his dedication to relieving human suffering.
Hernández, born in 1864 and deceased in 1919, was beatified in 2021 after the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession in the healing of Yaxury Solórzano Ortega, a girl who was shot in the head during an assault in 2017.
However, the miracle that has been key to Hernández’s canonization is the case of Venezuelan businessman Gonzalo Morales Divo, who suffered multi-organ failure in Miami, affecting his heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. During his hospital stay, Morales Divo saw the image of José Gregorio Hernández twice and, against all medical odds, made a full recovery.
The official date of the canonization ceremony will be determined during a consistory convened by the Supreme Pontiff, which will also set the date for the canonization of Blessed Bartolo Longo, an Italian, announced on the same day as Hernández’s.
Reactions from Venezuelan Figures
Reactions from Venezuelan figures were swift. President Nicolás Maduro expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis and highlighted the importance of this event for the country. “It is an act of justice for a man who in life was the protector of the most humble,” he stated.
From exile, Edmundo González Urrutia, whom the majority opposition claims as the legitimate winner of the last presidential elections, also reacted to the news, calling it historic. He assured that the event “strengthens hope in the hearts” of the Venezuelan people and expressed hope for a “renewed confidence in a better future” for the country.
Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado stated in a message on X that “this good news renews our hopes for a better future for Venezuela and reminds us of the immense power of faith.”
(With information from EFE and Vatican News)
