The journey to Catholic canonization can last centuries. For Mother Teresa, the process took less than two decades as Pope John Paul II waived the traditional five-year waiting period after her death in 1997. Here is the four-stage path to sainthood:
- A bishop launches an investigation of the candidate’s life, and if considered worthy, the candidate is deemed a “Servant of God.”
- A church official must prove — via documents and testimonies — the candidate lived heroic virtues. Once approved, the candidate is deemed “Venerable.”
- Confirmation of a “miracle” is then required. Five years after Mother Teresa’s death, Pope John Paul II deemed that the curing of a Bengali tribal woman’s abdominal tumor was the result of divine intervention. The woman reportedly had been cured by placing a photo of Mother Teresa on her stomach.
- The process is complete when a second miracle is deemed to have occurred. In the case of Mother Teresa, Pope Francis in December recognized a second miracle, which involved the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors.
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