Pope Francis Authorizes Beatification of Salvo D’Acquisto

Rome: Pope Francis on Monday received a visit from Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Substitute for General Affairs, Monsignor Edgar Pena Parra at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican press office said in a bulletin on Tuesday. During their meeting, the pontiff made a significant decision regarding beatification within the Catholic Church.

According to Ansa News Agency, during the audience granted to Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Pena Parra, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate Decrees concerning individuals on the path to sainthood. Among these was a Decree related to the “offering of life” of the “Servant of God Salvo D’Acquisto,” a member of the Italian Carabinieri who was born in Naples on 15 October 1920 and died in Palidoro, Italy, on 23 September 1943.

The “offering of life” is a category introduced by Pope Francis in 2017 for the beatification and canonization process. It recognizes Christians who have voluntarily offered their lives for others, following closely the teachings of Jesus, and persevered in this commitment until death.

On Monday evening, Cardinal Parolin led a rosary prayer in St Peter’s Square for the pontiff. These rosary prayers are scheduled to continue every evening in St Peter’s Square, with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization, leading the prayer on Tuesday night at 9 pm.