A man revered by millions as the “doctor of the poor” will be the first saint from Venezuela after Pope Francis approved a decree Tuesday. A date for the canonization of Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, who died in 1919,

Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez — known as the "doctor of the poor" — will soon become Venezuela's first saint. Pope Francis, the first South American pope, signed the decree for the canonization of Hernadez from a hospital in Rome on Tuesday.

A man revered by millions as the “doctor of the poor” will be the first saint from Venezuela after Pope Francis approved a decree Tuesday (AP/ Juan Arraez)

Venezuela will soon have its first saint, after ailing Pope Francis on Tuesday canonized a physician who died more than 100 years ago, revered for his selfless service during a

A mural dedicated to Dr. José Gregorio Hernández blankets a building in the La Pastora neighborhood where he once practiced medicine, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Pope Francis

A man looks up at a statue of José Gregorio Hernandez in Valencia, Venezuela, honoring the physician known as "the Doctor of the Poor" who was canonized by Pope Francis

Por Ángela Reyes Haczek, CNN en Español Venezuela celebra a quien se convertirá en su primer santo: el beato José Gregorio Hernández, conocido como el “médico de los pobres”, a quien el papa Francisco

This Tuesday, the Vatican reported that Francis "has slept well all night."The Vatican's evening bulletin on Monday was more optimistic than in recent days, despite Francis, 88, battling pneumonia in both lungs at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

The Argentine, who underwent the removal of part of a lung when he was young, has been hospitalized since February 14, and doctors have indicated that his situation is uncertain, given his age, fragility,

Blessed José Gregorio Hernández is known at the ‘doctor of the poor.’ Also to be canonized: Blessed Bartolo Longo. Additional causes were moved forward, including now-Venerable Emil Kapaun.

Venezuela will have a Saint for the first time and devotees all over the country are in a frenzy of happiness.

Venezuela will soon have its first saint, after ailing Pope Francis on Tuesday canonized a physician who died more than 100 years ago, revered for his selfless service during a previous pandemic. Jose Gregorio Hernandez was born in 1864,