In a historic ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday, October 19, Pope Leo XIV canonized seven religious figures, officially elevating them to sainthood. Among them was Bartolo Longo, a onetime Satanic priest who later became a revered Catholic figure.
The event, which drew more than 70,000 worshippers, marked the second canonization performed by Pope Leo XIV since his election as the new head of the Catholic Church in May.
Bartolo Longo’s story stood out among the newly canonized saints. Once a lawyer and high-ranking priest in the Satanic Church, Longo eventually renounced occultism and returned to the Catholic faith, dedicating his life to service and evangelism. He is best known for founding the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, a site that remains one of Italy’s most visited places of pilgrimage.
Born in Italy, Longo’s estrangement from the Church began after the death of his mother and during the political turmoil of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s movement to unify Italy. Drawn into anti-clerical circles, he became deeply involved in Satanic rituals, even reportedly pledging himself to the devil.
However, his conversion back to Catholicism was profound. Influenced by his family and a professor at the University of Naples, Longo underwent a complete transformation, dedicating his life to prayer, charity, and the promotion of the Rosary devotion.
Before his official canonization, Longo was already widely regarded by Catholics as an unofficial patron for those battling spiritual doubt or temptation.
Pope Leo XIV described Longo’s redemption as “a testament to divine mercy,” saying his life embodied the Church’s message that “no soul is beyond the reach of grace.”
