ASSISI, Italy - Thousands sang and applauded as Italian teen Carlo Acutis was beatified in a town dear to him and to many Christians around the world: Assisi.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be beatified during a special Mass Oct. 31 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford.

VATICAN CITY -- Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian who used his computer programming skills to spread devotion to the Eucharist, will be beatified in October, the Diocese of Assisi announced.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, clearing the way for his beatification.

The call went up to have Archbishop Fulton Sheen declared a saint almost from the day he died 40 years ago. So current disappointment at a Vatican directive to touch the brakes on the popular American’s sainthood cause is no surprise, but the decision is appropriate.

PEORIA, Ill. -- Supporters of the canonization cause for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen have been invited to take part in a novena starting Dec. 12 to "petition God unceasingly to remove all obstacles" for the beatification of the media pioneer, author and evangelist.

PEORIA, Ill. -- Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria said Dec. 3 Vatican officials have told him that the upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has been postponed.

PEORIA, Ill. -- With joy and thanksgiving, officials and faithful throughout the Diocese of Peoria and around the globe welcomed the announcement Nov. 18 that Pope Francis has called for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in Peoria Dec. 21.

Toronto takes a major step toward claiming its first saint on Oct. 20 with a Mass to close the initial stage of investigation into the possibility of canonizing Sr. Carmelina Tarantino.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CNA) -- In December 2017, 19 year-old Arkansas college student Christine McGee was rushed to the hospital by her mother.

MANCHESTER, England -- The Vatican has allowed the bishops of Zimbabwe to open the sainthood cause of a British missionary murdered after he refused to abandon his ministry to people with Hansen's disease during the country's civil war.

PEORIA, Ill. -- With "overwhelming joy," Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria announced July 6 that Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

As I approach the end of my time in university, I have been doing a lot of thinking about those who have played an important role in my life through these years. Among those who have supported, inspired and encouraged me, one who stands out is Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. 

Russian poison attacks are nothing new — just ask the Lithuanians.