More than 700,000 faithful filled St. Peter’s Square in Rome this month as Pope Leo XIV canonized Bartolo Longo, a man whose extraordinary conversion from Satanism to sanctity has inspired Catholics for generations. According to the Daily Mail, the Pope formally declared Longo, along with six others, “new saints for the Catholic Church” during the Mass of Canonization on October 19.
A Life Once Lost in Darkness
Born in 1841 in Latiano, Italy, Bartolo Longo studied law but, after his father’s death, strayed into occult practices. The Daily Mail reports that he was even “ordained a Satanic priest,” leading séances and experimenting with drugs, before hearing a haunting voice cry out to him: “Return to God!” That moment of terror became the first spark of grace.
Longo sought counsel from his friend Professor Vincenzo Pepe, who, according to the report, warned him that his choices were leading him toward “madness and spiritual ruin.” Pepe then introduced him to Father Alberto Radente, a Dominican priest who guided Longo through a profound month-long conversion and confession.
Under Father Radente’s spiritual care, Longo renounced Satanism completely and began living a life of penance, prayer, and charity. He became a lay Dominican, publicly denouncing the occult and warning others about its dangers. At one of his final encounters with spiritualists, he is said to have raised a rosary before the crowd and proclaimed:
“I renounce spiritualism; it is nothing but a web of lies and deception.”
Apostle of the Rosary and Champion of Mercy
Longo’s repentance bore fruit in his works of mercy. According to the Daily Mail, he founded the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, as well as orphanages for children of prisoners and homes for abandoned girls. His tireless service earned him the title “Apostle of the Rosary.”
Though once known for invoking darkness, Bartolo Longo became a radiant witness to the power of the Virgin Mary and the saving mercy of Christ. His motto, “Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved!” continues to inspire millions who visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii today.
The Path to Sainthood
The Daily Mail explains that canonization is the final step in a long process that begins with declaring a person a Servant of God, then Venerable, Blessed, and finally Saint after verified miracles.
At the canonization ceremony, Pope Leo XIV reflected:
“Today we have before us seven witnesses, the new Saints, who, with God’s grace, kept the lamp of faith burning. May their intercession assist us in our trials and their example inspire us in our shared vocation to holiness.”
A Modern Witness of Hope
Bartolo Longo’s canonization reminds the faithful that no sinner is beyond redemption. Once enslaved by deception, he became a messenger of truth; once devoted to darkness, he became a beacon of light. His journey embodies the hope offered to every soul who turns back to God.
As Pope Leo XIV’s words echoed through St. Peter’s Square, the Church rejoiced that the man who once served Satan now stands among the saints—proof that God’s mercy can transform even the most broken heart into a vessel of grace.
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