Pope advances causes of Argentine businessman, Spanish martyrs

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Meeting with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Pope Leo XIV recognized the miracle needed for the beatification of Enrique Ernesto Shaw, a 20th-century businessman from Argentina.

The pope also signed decrees recognizing the martyrdom of 11 Spaniards and the heroic virtues of three other candidates during an audience at the Vatican Dec. 18.

Born in 1921, Shaw founded the Christian Association of Business Executives and was arrested during a wave of anti-Catholic sentiment under the administration of Argentine President Juan Perón.

After he was released, he continued advocating for the application of Catholic social teaching in the workplace and was much esteemed by the people who worked with him. Shaw created a special fund to help provide financial support for workers needing medical care, sick and family leave. He died of cancer in Buenos Aires in 1962.

Pope Francis, who opened the sainthood cause when he was archbishop of Buenos Aries, once said that “Enrique Shaw was rich, yet saintly” and administered God’s gifts well.

Pope Leo approved a separate decree recognizing the martyrdom of Ignazio Aláex Vaquero, a Spanish seminarian, and 10 of his companions, who were killed between 1936 and 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Among the companions were a priest, semiarians and laypeople.

The pope also signed decrees recognizing the heroic virtues of:

— Syro-Malabar Father Joseph C. Panjikaran, founder of the Congregation of Medical Sisters of St. Joseph. He was born in 1888 in Uzhuva, India, and he died in 1949 in Kothamangalam, India.

— Franciscan Father Berardo Atonna, who was born in Sarno, Italy, in 1843 and died in Naples in 1917. He was dedicated to a compassionate and merciful approach to ministering to the poor, the sick and the vulnerable.

— Sister Domenica Caterina dello Spirito Santo, who was born Teresa Solari, founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Little House of Divine Providence. The Vatican said she probably was born in Ne, Italy, in 1822 and died in Genoa in 1908.

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