Roberto Clemente, the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Famed a baseball legend, is also revered for his philanthropy. He held free baseball clinics for youth in Puerto Rico and elsewhere, provided disaster relief, and lost his life while delivering aid to Nicaragua. The Roberto Clemente Foundation carries on his work, providing disaster relief and supporting youth development. Major League Baseball also honors his legacy with the annual Roberto Clemente Award, given to a player who demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship and community involvement.
But is he a saint?
Clemente has not been beatified. There have been requests to consider him for sainthood, though, and filmmaker Richard Rossi has written to the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, asking him to consider Clemente for the honor.
Rossi points out that Pope Leo, the first American pope, is a baseball fan.
“I am writing to seek your compassionate support and assistance regarding a cause that is very close to my heart—the canonization of the venerable Roberto Clemente, a baseball player whose life exemplified saintly virtues,” Rossi wrote to Pope Leo. “Clemente died a saintly death while on a mission of mercy to aid earthquake victims in Nicaragua, embodying true charity and self-sacrifice. Throughout his life, he prayed for children in hospitals, and miracles are attributed to his intercession. His life of service and faith reflects a deeply rooted Catholic devotion. I believe his canonization would inspire many. I believe it would be meaningful for the Church to highlight Clemente’s story as a contemporary example of holiness. His reputation as a man of God is already well-known, and his life continues to be a testament to living out the Gospel in everyday life.”
The process of canonization
The process of canonization in the Catholic Church is a detailed procedure to officially declare a deceased person a saint. It involves several stages:
- Servant of God: The process begins at the diocesan level, where the bishop investigates the person’s life and virtues. If deemed worthy, the person is declared a “Servant of God.”
- Venerable: The case then moves to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. They assess whether the individual lived a life of “heroic virtue.” If affirmed, the Pope declares the person “Venerable.”
- Blessed: Beatification is the next step. Generally, a miracle attributed to the person’s intercession must be verified. Martyrs can be beatified without a miracle. The person is then called “Blessed.”
- Saint: Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification. This confirms God’s favor and the person’s intercession for the entire Church. The Pope then officially declares the person a “Saint.”
The process involves rigorous scrutiny, including historical research, theological examination, and medical verification of miracles. The goal is to ensure that only those who lived exceptionally holy lives and are worthy of imitation and veneration are recognized as saints. The entire process can take centuries.
Verified miracles are an essential art of the process. In 2017, Jamie Nieto, an actor playing Roberto Clemente in a film, walked down the aisle at his wedding in spite of having broken his neck the previous year. Some claimed that this was a miracle performed by Clemente. That year, Rossi claimed that Pope Francis had beatified Clemente. The Vatican denied that Clemente had begun moving through the process of canonization. Rossi is hoping that a new pope — particularly a pope who is an American baseball fan — will reopen the question and lead to canonization for the baseball legend.
Clemente as a hero
Clemente may not be a saint now or in the future, but he is certainly a beloved figure and a hero for Puerto Rico and the rest of the United States.
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