Pope Leo XIV has authorized this Saturday, October 24, the promulgation of six decrees recognizing the heroic virtues of six Servants of God, including two missionary bishops, two diocesan priests, a Capuchin religious, and an Argentine laywoman linked to the Focolare Movement. The decision was communicated by the Holy See Press Office following the audience granted to Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
With the promulgation of these decrees, the six Servants of God are now recognized as Venerables. Their respective causes for beatification may advance once a miracle attributed to their intercession is recognized.
Two missionary bishops in Peru and India
Among the new Venerables is Friedrich Kaiser Depel (1903-1993), a German religious of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was the first prelate of the territorial prelature of Caravelí, in Peru, and titular bishop of Berrea. He also founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus Word and Victim. He was born in Dülmen, Germany, on May 24, 1903, and died in Lima on September 26, 1993.
The second bishop is Oreste Marengo (1906-1998), an Italian Salesian who served as apostolic administrator of Tura, in India, and titular bishop of Arsacal. He was born on August 29, 1906, in Diano d’Alba, Italy, and died on July 30, 1998, in Tura.
Two diocesan priests and a Capuchin religious
Leo XIV has also recognized the heroic virtues of Domenico Pogliani (1838-1921), an Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Holy Family Institute. He was born in Milan on December 18, 1838, and died in Arizzano on July 25, 1921.
Another of the new Venerables is Alessandro Vitetti (1915-1995), a diocesan priest born in Cirò, Italy, on October 12, 1915, and who died in Cariati on February 24, 1995.
The list also includes Daniel of San Giovanni Rotondo, whose birth name was Michele Natale. He was born on March 11, 1919, in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, and died in the same town on July 6, 1994. He was a professed religious of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.
An Argentine laywoman of the Focolare Movement
The sixth person recognized is Margarita Bavosi (1941-1985), known as «Luminosa,» an Argentine consecrated laywoman belonging to the Work of Mary, also called the Focolare Movement.
She was born in Buenos Aires on September 19, 1941, and died in Albano Laziale, Italy, on March 7, 1985.
The six decrees promulgated this Saturday refer to the recognition of heroic virtues. For their beatification, it will generally be necessary for the Church to recognize a miracle attributed to the intercession of each of the new Venerables.