CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela is set to witness its first canonization as Pope Francis has approved the sainthood of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, who is venerated as the “doctor of the poor” by countless devoted followers. Although no specific date for the canonization ceremony has been announced, the Vatican stated that plans to announce dates for upcoming canonizations are underway.
“This momentous occasion, eagerly anticipated by the Venezuelan populace, is a testament to the virtuous life and heroic deeds of a man dedicated to easing human suffering and spreading a message of love and hope,” the Archdiocese of Caracas expressed in a statement. “The Catholic Church acknowledges his sanctified life, enhanced by widespread devotion, which now leads to his elevation to sainthood.”
Dr. Hernández’s path to sainthood was reinforced in April 2021, when the Catholic Church accredited a miracle involving a young girl’s miraculous recovery after being shot in the head in 2017. Born on October 26, 1864, in Isnotu, a town in western Venezuela, Hernández pursued a medical education and graduated from the University of Caracas in 1888, remaining single throughout his life. Driven by a firm belief in the transformative power of science, he established two research centers and lectured at the Central University of Venezuela, the country’s oldest and largest academic institution.
His quest for knowledge led him to Europe for further studies and contemplation of a monastic life, yet the harsh Italian climate took a toll on his health, prompting his return to Venezuela, where he remained. Tragedy struck on June 29, 1919, when Hernández was fatally injured by a car while transporting medicine for a destitute woman; he died from head injuries sustained during the accident. His funeral procession drew a crowd of approximately 20,000 people, which was about a quarter of Caracas’ population at that time.
In 1986, the Vatican bestowed upon Hernández the title of “venerable,” indicating his exemplary Christian lifestyle. For sainthood, however, the Catholic Church requires official validation of miracles attributed to his intercession, undertaken by panels of medical experts, theologians, and cardinals. During Pope John Paul II’s visit to Venezuela in 1996, a mass petition was presented, reflecting the wishes of 5 million citizens—nearly a quarter of Venezuela’s population at the time—imploring the pontiff to acknowledge Hernández’s sainthood.
