Canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sunday (October 19) in front of tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, José Gregorio Hernández (1864-1919) was a Venezuelan physician renowned for his dedication to helping the poor. Born in Isnotú, Venezuela, Hernández pursued a medical career in Caracas, where he became famous for refusing to charge poor patients and often giving them money for medicine. His compassion and devotion to the vulnerable earned him the nickname “the poor man’s doctor”.
Acts of compassion
Hernández’s life was defined by service. He regularly treated patients regardless of their ability to pay, often walking long distances to deliver medicine and care. In 1919, he tragically died in a traffic accident shortly after picking up medicine to give to an elderly woman in need.
Heritage and religious respect
After his death, Hernández became a symbol of charity and altruism in Venezuela. His face appears in street art throughout Caracas, on hospital portraits and on home altars across the country. Millions of Venezuelans worshiped him as a spiritual intercessor and often attributed miraculous healings and blessings to his prayers.
The road to holiness
The movement for Hernández’s canonization began decades after his death. In 1996, during the visit of Pope John Paul II. in Venezuela, a petition with 5 million signatures demanded his sainthood – at the time almost one in four Venezuelans. Pope Francis approved Hernández’s canonization on February 24, 2025, bypassing the Vatican’s usual miracle verification process due to Hernández’s “widespread veneration among the faithful”.
Canonization
On October 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized Hernández in St. Peter’s Square, making him Venezuela’s first official saint. The ceremony drew tens of thousands of pilgrims to Rome, with many more watching from Caracas and other parts of the country.
Frequently Asked Questions: José Gregorio Hernández – Venezuela’s ‘doctor for the poor’
1. Who was José Gregorio Hernández?
José Gregorio Hernández was a Venezuelan physician known for his dedication to helping the poor. He earned the nickname “the poor man’s doctor” for treating patients without charging them and often providing money for their medication.
2. Where was Hernández born?
Born in Isnotú, Venezuela, he later pursued his medical career in Caracas.
3. Why is he called ‘doctor of the poor’?
Consistently treating poor patients free of charge, Hernández went above and beyond to provide care and medicine to those in need, displaying extraordinary compassion and selflessness.
4. How did José Gregorio Hernández die?
He died in 1919 in a traffic accident while carrying medicine to an elderly woman in need.
5. When was he canonized?
Hernández was canonized by Pope Leo XIV. October 19, 2025 in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Hernández became Venezuela’s first official saint, offering the country a spiritual figure of national pride and hope amid economic and social problems.
