Pope Francis Authorizes Miracle Attributed to Cardinal Edoardo Francesco Pironio and Heroic Virtues of 3 Religious Bringing them Closer to Sainthood

Promulgation of Decrees of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, 08.11.2023
During the audience granted to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Supreme Pontiff authorized the same Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decrees regarding:
- The miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Edoardo Francesco Pironio, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, born in Nueve de Julio, Argentina, on 3 December 1920 and died in Rome, Italy, on 5 February 1998; Brief Biography: Cardinal Pironio was born in Argentina in 1920, to a family of Italian immigrants. He was the last of 23 children.
During his lifetime, he was well-known for his humility and profound spirituality, as well as for his close relationships with the homeless people living in the vicinity of St Peter’s Square.
Once considered a leading candidate for the papacy, he was a key figure in the Latin American Church, serving as both secretary and president of the Latin American Episcopal Conference.
In 1975, Pope Paul VI called him to Rome, where he was created Cardinal. From 1984 to 1996, he served as President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Cardinal Pironio died in Rome in 1998, after a long and difficult illness. In an interview, the Pope said of Pironio: “When you spoke with him, he always gave you the feeling that he was the worst man in the world, the worst sinner.”
The pope also recognized the heroic virtues of 3 others, thus bringing them closer to canonization:
- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Giuseppe Marrazzo, professed priest of the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus; born on 5 May 1917 in San Vito dei Normanni, Italy, and died on 30 November 1992 in Messina, Italy;
- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary (née Eliswa Vakayil), founder of the Congregation of the Third Order of the Descalced Carmelites, now the Teresian Carmelite Sisters; born on 15 October 1831 in Ochanthuruth, India, and died on 18 July 1913 in Varapuzha, India;
- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Maria Francesca Foresti (née Eleonora), founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters Adorers; born on 17 February 1898 in Bologna, Italy, and died on 12 November 1953 in Ozzano Emilia, Italy.

Sources: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/11/08/231108c.html and Vatican News