Pope Francis Commends Bishop Áron Márton’s Heroic Sacrifice
Pope Francis has officially recognized Bishop Áron Márton of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehervár, Romania) as having practiced holiness to a heroic degree, granting him the title of Venerable. This significant announcement marks an important step in his canonization process.
The next stage in the process will require proof of a miracle attributed to his intercession before moving forward to beatification. This recognition comes after over three decades of the canonization process for Bishop Márton, which began in the early 1990s.
Bishop Áron Márton, who served as Bishop of Gyulafehervár from 1939 to 1980, is remembered for his courageous stances, including opposing the deportation of Jews during World War II and resisting communist rule. Despite being arrested in 1949 and imprisoned, he was later released under international pressure. His legacy of standing up to totalitarian regimes and defending religious freedom are central to his veneration.
Archbishop Gergely Kovács of Alba Iulia expressed gratitude for the progress, stating, “After 86 years, our archdiocese has again received Bishop Áron as a Christmas gift, albeit in a different form.” As the Church continues to await a verified miracle to proceed with Márton’s beatification, Archbishop Kovács encouraged everyone to pray to the Venerable Bishop Áron Márton and ask for a verified miracle through his intercession.
The journey to sainthood for Bishop Áron Márton continues, and this recognition from Pope Francis marks a significant milestone in his path towards canonization. The Church and supporters of Bishop Márton now eagerly await the verification of a miracle to progress further in his beatification process.
