Vatican theologians advance sainthood cause of Wisconsin missionary priest

Vatican theologians unanimously voted in favor of advancing the canonization cause of Servant of God Joseph Walijewski, a priest from the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who served as a missionary in Latin America.

The nine members of the Theological Congress of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examined the “ positio” for Walijewski, which is the formal document about his life that shows evidence of heroic virtue, a reputation for holiness, and his intercessory power.

In a unanimous vote, the theologians voted in favor of affirming the merits of his cause. The positio will be reviewed by the cardinals and bishops at the dicastery, who will determine whether to recommend his cause favorably to the pope. If they do, it would be up to Pope Leo XIV to decide whether to beatify him and grant him the title “venerable.”

Servant of God Father Joseph Walijewski serves as a priest in Lima, Peru, in 1996. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of La Crosse

“This marks a significant milestone and an important step forward in the advancement of his cause,” Diocese of La Crosse Bishop Gerard W. Battersby said in an announcement. “... While additional steps remain,…