Venezuela commemorates first anniversary of José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles canonization

Venezuela is marking the first anniversary of the canonization of José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles, the nation's first recognized saints. The proclamation was made by Pope Leo XIV on October 19, 2025, at St. Peter's Square.

Thousands of devotees are gathering at temples across the country, including the Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Candelaria in Caracas, where the remains of Hernández are interred. The commemorations coincide with the upcoming 162nd anniversary of Hernández's birth on October 26.

José Gregorio Hernández, known as the ‘doctor of the poor,’ was a pioneer of scientific medicine in Venezuela. After graduating from the Central University of Venezuela, he specialized in Paris and returned to establish the country's first experimental physiology laboratory. Carmen Rendiles, the founder of the Servants of Jesus, is honored for her religious vocation and educational work.