A local miracle with universal significance
The Diocese of Santa María de Los Ángeles, in the Biobío region of Chile, is experiencing a moment of profound joy and spiritual reflection following the official confirmation of the canonization of Blessed Vicenta María Poloni. The ceremony, which will take place on October 19, 2025, in Rome, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, marks the culmination of a process that found its decisive foundation in an extraordinary event that occurred on Chilean soil.
The miracle that opened the doors
The path to sainthood for the founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona was definitively paved by a miracle recognized by the Holy See. More than a decade ago, in the town of Las Águilas, in the commune of Quilleco, Audelia Parra survived a serious internal hemorrhage during a complex surgical procedure in a manner that was medically inexplicable. Her recovery is attributed to the intercession of Blessed Poloni, invoked at that critical moment by her grandson, then a seminarian and now a priest, Father Álvaro Martínez.
Testimony of faith and hope
Father Álvaro Martínez, who currently has seven years of priestly ministry, expressed his emotion after receiving the official news from Rome. "This miraculous experience helps a lot in the priestly ministry, because it reaffirms that the Lord continues to work," he said. "It is not a matter of privileges, nor because one is a priest. The Lord acts when He wants and where He wants, for His glory." The priest also shared the joy of his family, especially his grandmother Audelia, and expressed his conviction that this event will bring about numerous conversions, transcending the limits of the local community.
A congregation in action and gratitude
The confirmation of the canonization has united the diocesan community and the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in joy. During the Solemnity of Pentecost, Our Lady of Mercy Parish received a visit from the Regional Superior for Argentina and Chile, Sister Teodora Taimó, along with other religious sisters who serve in Santa Bárbara. This gathering was a moment of special communion, celebrating the official recognition of the holiness of their foundress, whose legacy of humility and service to those most in need endures. The congregation has been actively present in the diocese for more than 17 years, dedicating itself to the care of the sick, children, youth, and the elderly.
A legacy that has flourished since the 19th century
Vicenta María Poloni, born in Verona in the 19th century, dedicated her life to serving the most disadvantaged. Together with Blessed Carlo Steeb, she founded a congregation whose charism focused on caring for the sick, orphans, and victims of war. Today, that spirit of mercy has crossed borders and flourishes on several continents, including deep roots in Chile. Monsignor Cristian Castro Toovey, bishop of the Diocese of Santa María de Los Ángeles, highlighted the significance of the event: "From October 19, the Church will be able to joyfully call her Saint Vicenta María Poloni." Her story, which began in Italy, has become universal, and her future canonization is seen as a gift for the local Church and for the whole world.
Original source: adn.celam.org (published June 16, 2025)
Photo: Gustavo Sánchez on Unsplash
