On February 21, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV is declaring Servant of God Fr. Theopane (born Michael Koodalloor) "venerable."
This means that the Vatican has reviewed his life and has confirmed that Fr. Theopane led a life of heroic virtue. It is the next step in his cause of canonization. Once two miracles can be confirmed through his intercession, he can be first "beatified" and then "canonized."
VaticanNews explains how Fr. Theopane is often compared to St. Padre Pio:
Widely regarded as one of the most esteemed Capuchin preachers of his time, Theophane was known for his humility and closeness to the poor. Some compared him to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, especially for the way he welcomed and prayed for those who sought his counsel. His reputation for holiness, already widespread during his lifetime, grew further after his death.
Who was Fr. Theopane?
Born in Kerala, India in 1913, Fr. Theopane was raised in a Catholic household and was eager to be an altar server once he was old enough. During high school he desired to be a priest and initially joined a seminary to become a diocesesan priest.
However, during seminary he felt a call to the Franciscan way of life and entered the Capuchin novitiate in 1933, taking the name of Theopane.
After many years of study, he was finally ordained a priest in 1941. During his priesthood he was assigned to a variety of locations, and gave many missions to local parishes in the region.
The Dicastery of Saints and Causes provides this summary of his heroic life:
The Venerable Servant of God from childhood lived and witnessed a faith exercised with fortitude even in adversity, nourished by prayer and Eucharistic adoration. He was constant in obedience to the will of the Lord in all circumstances, docile to ecclesiastical Authority and Superiors. He had a deep love for his neighbor, devoting himself with special attention to caring for the least and lived intensely the spirit of poverty of Saint Francis of Assisi, welcoming with fraternal charity and generosity all those who approached him, both lay and religious, dispensing them spiritual and material comfort.
Fr. Theopane died in 1968 after his health deteriorated, due to a variety of illnesses that he kept to himself and tried to hide from everyone else.
He is highly revered in India and his tomb attracts a large number of people every year.
