The Catholic Church has once again drawn criticism for its focus on figures who allegedly diverted attention from Jesus Christ. Pope Leo XIV recently canonized seven religious individuals, including Bartolo Longo, an Italian lawyer who transitioned from being a Satanic priest to a devout Catholic. Longo’s life story includes a period of involvement in occult practices before he renounced them and dedicated himself to spreading devotion to the Rosary. His efforts led to the establishment of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, which remains a significant pilgrimage site.
Among the newly canonized figures is Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who died of leukemia in 2006. Known as “God’s Influencer,” Acutis used his computer skills to promote Catholic teachings online. Two miracles were attributed to his intercession, leading to his sainthood. The Vatican highlighted the healing of a Brazilian boy and a Costa Rican student as evidence of his spiritual influence.
The ceremony also celebrated other figures, including an archbishop killed during the Armenian genocide and a Venezuelan “doctor of the poor.” However, critics argue that the Church’s emphasis on saints and rituals overshadows its core focus on Jesus Christ. The article questions whether such practices align with biblical teachings, which stress direct worship of Christ rather than reliance on intermediaries like saints or the Rosary.
The event marked Pope Leo XIV’s first major canonization as leader of the Catholic Church, drawing large crowds to the Vatican. While some view the sainthood process as a testament to faith, others see it as an unnecessary distraction from spiritual purity.