On Tuesday, Pope Francis declared Emil Joseph Kapaun, a courageous and selfless U.S. Army chaplain during the Korean War, “venerable” in a significant step towards sainthood. This declaration was part of a series of approvals made by the Holy Father, marking the lives of several individuals who followed Christ’s teachings to the fullest.
Kapaun’s path to sainthood has been shaped by his unwavering commitment to serving others, even in the face of great personal suffering. The Pope’s decision was part of a broader acknowledgment of six men and one woman who have shown heroic virtue. Among them were also Italian layman Salvo D’Acquisto, Spanish priest Miquel Maura i Montaner, Italian priest Didaco Bessi, and Polish laywoman Kunegunda Siwiec, as reported by the Vatican. These individuals are now officially recognized as venerable, meaning their lives and virtues are recognized as models of holiness.
The concept of “offering of life” was integral to Kapaun’s recognition. Introduced by Pope Francis in 2017, the “offering of life” category honors those who voluntarily dedicate their lives to following Jesus Christ, serving others freely, and doing so even to the point of death. As the Vatican noted, both Kapaun and D’Acquisto were recognized for their “offering of life,” having lived out these principles until their deaths.
Born on April 20, 1916, in Pilson, Kansas, Kapaun was ordained as a priest in 1940 for the Diocese of Wichita. He began his ministry by serving his home parish and later worked as an auxiliary chaplain at the Army airbase in Herington, Kansas. His desire to serve military personnel led him to become a U.S. Army chaplain in 1944, as authorized by Bishop Christian Winkelmann. Kapaun’s ministry took him to places like Burma and India during the final years of World War II, and then to Korea after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. During his time in Korea, Kapaun ministered to soldiers on the battlefield, often using the hood of a jeep as a makeshift altar to celebrate Mass. He would tend to the injured, bring the sacraments, and pray with soldiers in the foxholes, bringing the light of faith to the darkest of times.
In a particularly poignant moment during the Battle of Unsan, Kapaun was captured and taken to a Chinese-run prison camp in Pyoktong, North Korea, along with many of his fellow soldiers. There, he continued to live out his priestly vocation, stealing food for his fellow prisoners and providing spiritual comfort despite the prohibition on prayer. His dedication to others in the most extreme conditions was noted by many, with the Vatican reporting that his “holiness and bravery” were recognized while he was still in active service.
Kapaun’s death on May 23, 1951, was the result of months of malnutrition and pneumonia while imprisoned, yet his legacy of sacrificial love continued to inspire. In 2021, after 70 years, Kapaun’s skeletal remains were identified among 866 unknown Korean War soldiers and reburied with great respect at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. A funeral Mass in Kapaun’s honor took place at Wichita’s Hartman Arena on September 29, 2021, where over 5,000 people gathered to honor this servant of God.
In addition to Kapaun’s recognition, Pope Francis also approved the canonization of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros from Venezuela and Blessed Bartolo Longo from Italy. The Holy Father has called for a consistory to prepare for the upcoming canonizations, which will continue to inspire the faithful and lead them closer to the living example of Christ through the lives of these venerable and blessed individuals.
As we await further steps in Kapaun’s canonization process, his story remains a powerful testimony of a life dedicated to God and others, regardless of the cost. His example of living the “offering of life” continues to encourage Catholics worldwide to embrace sacrificial love and to follow Christ in every circumstance.
