The Vatican has halted the sainthood cause of Walter Ciszek, an American priest who was tortured by the Soviet police.
Ciszek, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1904 and died in 1984, ministered fellow prisoners in Russia from 1941 to 1963. He was imprisoned as Soviet authorities believed he was a spy and was released as part of a prison swap negotiated by former President John F. Kennedy.
His cause was approved by the Vatican in 2012, but, writing in a letter, Monsignor Ronald Bocian of the Walter Ciszek Prayer League said “the formal canonization process has been stopped.” The Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania confirmed the news in a statement to EWTN News.
Newsweek has reached out to the Vatican by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The news comes amid escalating tension between the U.S. and the Vatican, though there is no suggestion of a motive behind canceling Ciszek’s sainthood cause.
Pope Leo XIV recently denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop fighting and negotiate peace. While the pope did not name President Donald Trump or the United States directly and said he was not targeting Trump, his message was widely interpreted as aimed at the administration.
Trump told reporters last week that he was “not a big fan” of Leo. In response, the pontiff said he had “no fear” of the Trump administration.
What To Know
In the letter, Bocian said: “The diocese has been informed that the documentation relating to his cause does not support advancing his cause for beatification or sainthood.”
“The development comes after years of careful study and discernment at the level of the Holy See, which bears the responsibility of evaluating each cause with thoroughness, integrity, and fidelity to the Church’s norms,” Bocian continued.
“While this news may understandably bring disappointment to many who have been inspired by Father Ciszek’s example of heroic faith and have prayed for his cause, it does not diminish the enduring spiritual value of his life, witness, and legacy,” Bocian said.
The Diocese of Allentown said in a statement: “This development comes as the church evaluates each cause with thoroughness, integrity, and fidelity to its norms.”
According to recent polling from Fox News, Trump’s approval rating with Catholics now stands at 48 percent, with 52 percent saying they disapprove of the job he is doing as president. A February poll, also conducted by Fox News, had found that 52 percent of Catholics approved and only 48 percent disapproved.
