Pope moves Knights of Columbus founder closer to sainthood

Pope Francis leads the Regina Coeli prayer from the Library of the Apostolic Palace without public participation due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Vatican May 24, 2020. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has moved Father Michael McGivney, the Irish-American priest who founded the Knights of Columbus worldwide charity in the 19th century, a step closer to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican said on Wednesday that the pope had approved a decree crediting McGivney with interceding with God for a miracle. This means he will be beatified, the last step before sainthood, and receive the title Blessed.