Historically, many popes were automatically canonized after death, but this practice has changed significantly. Today, while 80 of the 266 popes have been canonized, the process is lengthy and rigorous. Canonization requires a thorough investigation of the pope's life and writings, declarations of virtues, and the validation of two miracles. The latest popes to be canonized are John XXIII and John Paul II, recognized in a 2014 ceremony led by Pope Francis. Unlike earlier times, the timeline for canonization can extend for decades.
Although two of the five popes before Pope Francis have been named saints, merely serving as pontiff is not a shoo-in to canonization.
The process of canonization involves years of investigation and review by the church, particularly the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
The pope makes the final decision on canonization, which requires the validity of two miracles attributed to the candidate's intercession.
For most of the church's history, decades usually passed between a person's death and the beginning of a push for their canonization.
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