By Alejandra Garcia on October 16, 2025
Venezuelans, Dr. José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Elena Rendiles will be canonized by Pope Leo XIV on October 19.
In three days Venezuela will experience a significant moment in its religious and cultural history: the canonization of its first two saints, Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez and Mother Carmen Elena Rendiles. The solemn ceremony will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, marking a recognition in the spiritual life of the nation by elevating these two revered Venezuelans to the universal altar of the Catholic Church, all the while the Venezuelan people are being menaced by an armada of US warships off their shores and B-52 bombers flying overhead.
This historic event will gather pilgrims, church authorities, and faithful from around the world to celebrate the official recognition of Hernandez and Mother Carmen as universal saints. The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, will also be a key point of devotion. Due to the time difference with Rome, the eve of the canonization will be Dr. celebrated on Saturday, October 18, with a nationwide vigil and a live broadcast of the ceremony, allowing Venezuelans across the country to be a part of this highly anticipated moment.
The religious fervor will continue with a massive national commemoration on October 25 at the Simon Bolívar Monumental Stadium in Caracas, marking a new chapter in Venezuela’s Catholic faith. Amid the political and social tensions, the canonization stands as a symbol of hope, unity, and peace.
Symbols of Faith, Service, and Hope
Jose Gregorio Hernandez, known as the “Doctor of the Poor,” was born in 1864 in Isnotu, Trujillo state. Throughout his life, he devoted himself tirelessly to medicine, caring for the most vulnerable with a devotion that transcended his profession, becoming a symbol of humility, kindness, and generosity. His beatification in 2021, prior to his canonization, recognized the miracles attributed to his intercession, solidifying his legacy as a protector of the sick and a inspiration of hope for Venezuelans.
Mother Carmen Elena Rendiles, born in Caracas in 1903, founded the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus. Despite being born without her left arm, she overcame physical limitations to become an exemplary religious leader. Through her educational work and commitment to the vulnerable, Mother Carmen left a legacy of love and service. Her canonization highlights a life of sacrifice and resilience.
Both saints reflect deeply rooted values in Venezuelan identity: solidarity, compassion, and strength in the face of adversity. The canonization of Jose Gregorio Hernandez and Mother Carmen Rendiles not only elevates their legacy globally but also reaffirms the spiritual richness of Venezuela, a country that, despite aggression and misinformation campaigns, finds hope in faith.
President Nicolás Maduro has hailed the canonization as a spiritual act of justice, emphasizing that Pope Francis –just a few days before passing on April 21, 2025- fulfilled his promise to elevate the two emblematic figures of Venezuelan faith to the altars. For president Maduro, this event honors not only the two new saints but all Venezuelans who have kept faith alive during difficult times. In a context of political sanctions and military harassment from the U.S., the canonization of Jose Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles emerges as a light of hope for the nation.
The Canonization Becomes a Symbol of Unity and Peace
The canonization occurs at a critical moment for Venezuela amid U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The deployment of U.S. warships in Caribbean waters, near Venezuelan coasts, is a further attempt to destabilize the country. Recent attacks on fishing vessels, considered extrajudicial killings, have been officially excused by Washington as anti-drug cartel operations, but are widely perceived by everyone else as efforts to provoke regime change in the South American nation. In this context, the canonization becomes a symbol of unity and peace at a time when the Venezuelan people feel threatened by external forces.
The celebrations also face internal challenges. Sectors of the Venezuelan extreme-right-wing have already attempted to sabotage the canonization festivities, as recently denounced by Diosdado Cabello, secretary general of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). According to Cabello, there is a terrorist plan to disrupt the events scheduled for October 19.
Despite these threats, President Maduro reaffirmed his conviction that the canonization represents justice not only for José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles but for all Venezuelans who have fought to keep faith alive under adversity. The life of Jose Gregorio Hernandez, with his dedication to the needy, and that of Mother Carmen, with her example of overcoming hardship, offers hope to a nation that still believes in the transformative power of faith in the struggle for Venezuelan sovereignty.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – English