Papal Sainthood Process
While two of the five popes before Francis have been canonized, sainthood is no longer guaranteed for pontiffs. Throughout history, only 80 of the 266 popes have been canonized, with a detailed process involving investigations by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, requiring two miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession before the pope makes the final decision. Recent changes have significantly reduced the time between a pope’s death and canonization, exemplified by the joint canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II in 2014.
