(LifeSiteNews) – On Monday, LifeSiteNews launched a new petition for the canonization of Fr. Vincent Capodanno, a military chaplain who died ministering to soldiers on the front lines of the Vietnam War.
Fr. Capodanno was ordained in 1958 and served as a missionary in Taiwan and Hong Kong until 1965, when he was commissioned into the Navy as a lieutenant and chaplain. Two years later, while “giving Marines the Last Rites as they lay dying,” the 38-year-old priest was killed with 27 machine gun bullets.
“Fr. Vincent Capodanno was among the very best of us, and his heroic offering of his life means he deserves to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church,” the petition states.
His sacrifice was recognized by his country in 1969 when he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In May 2006, the chaplain was declared a Servant of God, taking the first step towards canonization.
According to the petition, “Fr. Capodanno’s cause has suffered a setback in recent weeks when a group of theologians recommended the Vatican suspend the process, despite the priest already being made a Servant of God by the Church.”
Some are concerned that “it would be inappropriate to canonize the army chaplain due to the military conflict in Ukraine.” However, this opinion is “consultative advice” and cannot halt the canonization process on its own.
“That’s why Catholics must speak up to support the Staten Island priest’s cause for canonization.”
Fr. Capodanno, known affectionately as the “Grunt Padre” for his willingness to join the soldiers in the trenches, was first considered for sainthood in 2018. A woman with multiple sclerosis was miraculously healed through the chaplain’s intercession.
“With a strong devotion to Fr. Capodanno, the woman asked for his healing intercession and a subsequent MRI showed that the lesions in her brain had disappeared,” the petition explains. “The woman attributed this miracle to the Naval Reserve lieutenant’s intercession.”
According to the petition, the chaplain’s cause “might be the first considered under Pope Francis’ ‘offering of life’ category created in 2017 as a path to sainthood, with the traditional paths being martyrdom and dying as a ‘confessor’.”
“The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints must hear of the faithful’s support for Fr. Capodanno’s cause.”
More information on the courageous priest and his cause can be found at the Fr. Capodanno Guild website.