A 20-year investigation into the life and works of Fr Ignatius Spencer has been approved by Vatican historians, it emerged yesterday.
The document, known as a positio, has now been passed over to theologians of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Sainthood.
If they decide there is “evidence of sanctity”, they will then ask Pope Francis to declare the Victorian Passionist priest as “Venerable”.
At that point, the Catholic Church will begin the search for two miracles needed first for his beatification – when he will be given the title of “Blessed” - and then his canonisation, when he will be declared to be a saint.
