Two exemplary Venezuelans, José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles, were canonized as saints on October 19, 2025, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The ceremony, which drew thousands of pilgrims, was described as a "balm for a people who, in the midst of political storms and forced exiles, cry out for hope." The event occurred amidst ongoing political challenges in Venezuela, with opposition figures María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia referencing the canonization as a symbol of hope for the nation. The canonization of José Gregorio Hernández, known as the "doctor of the poor" for his work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Carmen Rendiles, founder of the Servants of Jesus who dedicated her life to the marginalized, marks a significant moment for the Venezuelan Catholic Church. Hernández, born in 1864, was recognized for his healing abilities and service to the underprivileged, while Rendiles, born in 1903, founded a religious order focused on assisting the marginalized. Both were recognized for miracles attributed to their intercession. Opposition leaders viewed the canonization as a spiritual uplift for a nation facing significant hardship. María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, in a joint statement, framed the new saints as "two saints for 30 million Venezuelan hostages," linking the spiritual event to the country's political prisoners, persecuted individuals, and those affected by the current regime. They expressed confidence that a "time of light and freedom will soon arrive for all of Venezuela."
