Bartolo Longo is one of the last to be canonized after a decree from the now deceased Pope Francis. He signed the decree for Longo's canonization during his last stay in the hospital. On Sunday, it's time for Pope Leo XIV to perform the canonization.
Long was born in Italy in 1841 and during his study period in Naples, he became interested in the occult. Bartolo Longo later became a counterpart to a priest within Satanism. During his lifetime, however, he found his way back to his Catholic faith. He will be the first former Satanist priest to be canonized.
Six other people will also be canonized on Sunday, including three Italian nuns, writes AFP.
The canonization is Pope Leo XIV's second. In September, Carlo Acutis was canonized, among others, who has been called "God's influencer" by many.
Canonizations take place in two stages. The first is called beatification or beatification and means that a deceased person can be revered as a saint locally, or by a religious order. The next step is canonization, which means that the reverence is extended universally to the entire Catholic Church
To be canonized, the person must have lived a virtuous life or died as a martyr.
To be beatified, a miracle is required that can be linked to the person's prayer - this is not required for a martyr, however.
Canonization is the final step in canonization and requires another miracle that must have occurred after the beatification (this also applies to martyrs).
Source: The Catholic Church
