You’ve probably seen the headlines or the massive crowds in St. Peter’s Square and wondered: is Pope Francis a saint? It’s a natural question. After all, he was one of the most visible human beings on the planet for over a decade. He was the guy who ditched the fancy papal palace for a guest house and made "mercy" his entire brand.
But if we’re talking about the official, capital-S "Saint" title from the Catholic Church, the answer is no. Not yet, anyway.
To be a saint in the eyes of the Vatican, you generally have to be two things: dead and "miraculous." Since Pope Francis passed away in April 2025, he checks the first box. But the second part? That's where things get complicated, slow, and honestly, a bit bureaucratic. As of early 2026, Francis is in the very early stages of what will likely be a decades-long journey toward the altar.
Why isn't he a saint right now?
Basically, the Church has a rulebook. It’s called the Divinus Perfectionis Magister, and it’s not exactly a "fast-track" document. Under normal circumstances, you can’t even start the investigation into someone’s life until five years after they’ve died. This "cooling off" period is meant to make sure the Church isn't just caught up in the emotions of a funeral.
Remember the "Santo Subito!" (Saint Now!) chants at John Paul II’s funeral? Even then, it took years.
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For is Pope Francis a saint to become a "yes," his successor, Pope Leo XIV, or the bishops in Rome have to formally open a "cause." This starts with the title Servant of God. Right now, the world is still processing the transition to the new papacy. We are currently in the 2026 Franciscan Jubilee Year, but that's actually celebrating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death—the original Saint Francis—not the recent Pope.
The long road to the halo
The process is a grind. It’s less like a hall of fame vote and more like a high-stakes legal trial.
- Venerable: The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints digs through every letter, sermon, and laundry list the person ever wrote. They’re looking for "heroic virtue." Did this guy live the Gospel in an extraordinary way?
- Beatification (Blessed): This is the halfway point. To get here, the Church usually needs to verify one miracle attributed to the person’s intercession. Usually, it’s a medical healing that doctors can't explain.
- Canonization (Saint): You need a second, separate miracle after the beatification.
What most people get wrong about "Saint" Popes
There is a huge misconception that being the Pope automatically makes you a saint. It doesn't.
For centuries, being a saint was almost a "retirement perk" for popes. Of the first 50 popes, 48 are saints. But then the Church got picky. Between the year 1572 and 1903, only one pope was canonized. One!
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Things changed recently. We’ve seen a "saint boom" with John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II all getting the title. Some critics, like those often found in the National Catholic Reporter, worry that canonizing every recent pope makes the title feel like a participation trophy for the job.
Pope Francis himself was the one who pushed many of these causes forward. He even waived the second miracle requirement for John XXIII because he felt the "Good Pope" was already universally loved enough. Whether Pope Leo XIV will do the same for Francis is the big question hanging over the Vatican in 2026.
The case for (and against) his sainthood
If you ask a regular person in a parish in Buenos Aires, they’ll tell you he’s already a saint. They point to his humility. He washed the feet of prisoners. He stayed in a simple apartment. He talked about the environment before it was "cool" for religious leaders to do so.
But the "Devil’s Advocate"—a role that actually used to exist in these trials—would have plenty to talk about too.
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- The Scandals: His handling of the global clergy abuse crisis remained a major point of contention throughout his papacy.
- The Polarizing Politics: His "liberal" leanings on things like divorce and remarriage (the whole Amoris Laetitia drama) made him some fierce enemies in the conservative wing of the Church.
- The "Pauperism" Debate: Some felt his rejection of traditional papal pomp "cheapened" the office.
These aren't just internet arguments; they are the exact things the Vatican investigators will spend years analyzing. They have to decide: was he a holy man who made mistakes, or do the mistakes outweigh the "heroic virtue"?
Current status in 2026
Right now, if you go to Rome, you’ll see the tomb of Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) in the grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica. People are leaving flowers. They are leaving notes. This is what the Church calls a "cult of devotion." It’s the first sign a cause might succeed. If people keep praying to him and claiming their prayers were answered, the Vatican takes notice.
Actionable steps for the curious
If you’re following the legacy of Pope Francis or want to stay updated on his potential path to sainthood, here is what you can actually do:
- Follow the "Dicastery for the Causes of Saints": This is the official Vatican office. They don't move fast, but when they release a decree of "Venerable" or "Blessed," that’s the only time the status officially changes.
- Distinguish the "Francises": Don't get confused by the 2026 Franciscan Jubilee. That is for the 13th-century monk from Assisi. The body of that St. Francis is being displayed this year, which is a massive event, but unrelated to the late Pope’s canonization.
- Watch for the "Five-Year Mark": April 2030 will be the five-year anniversary of his death. That is the earliest we should expect any major formal movement on his cause, unless Pope Leo XIV decides to grant a special waiver to speed things up.
- Read the "Positio": If and when his cause moves forward, a massive document called a Positio will be compiled. It’s basically the ultimate biography. Reading the summaries of these documents gives the best insight into how the Church actually views his life's work.
The question of is Pope Francis a saint isn't going away. For now, he remains a "Servant of God" in the hearts of many, but a "Candidate" in the eyes of the law. We’re in for a long wait.