Brazil Hosts First National Meeting on the Cause of Saints
5/8/20243 min read
Over 70 Postulators Gather to Strengthen Canonization Efforts in the Church
Brasília, July 15, 2025 – In a historic and spiritually significant event, the first National Meeting on the Cause of Saints in Brazil is taking place from July 14 to 17 at Casa Dom Luciano in Brasília. Organized by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), the meeting brings together 70 postulators who are responsible for guiding the complex processes that may one day lead to official sainthood.
The event is an opportunity for these professionals to share experiences, reflect on ongoing challenges, and deepen their understanding of the Church’s mission to recognize holiness lived heroically throughout the country.
“May God grant that this be the first of many gatherings like this,” said Bishop Ricardo Hoepers, Auxiliary Bishop of Brasília and Secretary-General of the CNBB, during the opening Mass.
A Meeting Inspired by Hope
Held during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope, the event takes on deeper meaning. Bishop Denilson Geraldo, also from Brasília, presided over the inaugural Eucharistic celebration and emphasized that saints and martyrs are living testimonies that hope in Christ is not abstract—but transformative.
“The canonization process is not about elevating human merit but recognizing divine grace lived with fidelity,” he reminded participants.
This balance between theological discernment and historical rigor is central to the Catholic canonization process, which involves both the voice of the faithful and the institutional wisdom of the Church.
Saints: Signs of God’s Presence in History
According to Bishop José Luiz Magela, Archbishop of Pouso Alegre and president of the CNBB’s Special Commission for the Cause of Saints, the meeting is more than technical training—it is a moment of communion, formation, and spiritual renewal.
He recalled words from Pope Benedict XVI, who once reminded postulators of their dual vocation: to maintain strict fidelity to the truth while humbly recognizing God’s mysterious work in the lives of those open to His grace.
“As postulators,” Bishop Magela said, “we are mediators between life and memory, between the people of God and the judgment of the Church, between history and eternity.”
A Deeper Look into the Canonization Process
The canonization journey in the Catholic Church follows four major steps:
Diocesan Phase: The local bishop gathers evidence of the candidate’s life of virtue and holiness.
Roman Phase: The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints reviews all documents with the help of theologians and medical experts.
Beatification: After one miracle is verified, the candidate may be declared “Blessed.”
Canonization: With a second confirmed miracle, the Pope officially declares the individual a Saint of the Universal Church.
This process, while rigorous, highlights the beauty of Christian witness in daily life, offering faithful around the world concrete models of holiness.
Brazil's Living Heritage of Holiness
Brazil is home to 171 canonization causes, including 54 Blesseds, 30 Venerables, and 87 Servants of God, according to a survey by Benedictine monk Valombrosano from São João Gualberto Monastery.
The nation has already given the Church 37 saints, such as Saint Dulce of the Poor, canonized in 2019 and revered as the first Brazilian-born female saint. These examples reflect not only the country’s deep Catholic roots but also its ongoing commitment to evangelization through witness.
What Comes Next
The meeting’s second day includes a spiritual retreat led by Bishop Anselmo Chagas de Paiva, focusing on themes such as conversion, prayer, and the Beatitudes. Participants will also visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, connecting their mission with the devotional life of the Church.
On the third day, formation sessions will be conducted by Canon Antonio Saldanha Albuquerque, a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who will address:
Christ as the source of holiness
The Church as a communion of saints
The importance of the Studium in the postulator’s work
A Final Word of Encouragement
The work of postulators is deeply spiritual—and profoundly pastoral. It reminds us all that holiness is not reserved for the extraordinary few, but is a path open to each of us, lived out in love, humility, and faithfulness.