Another Filipino nun a step closer to sainthood

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 7) — Another Filipino nun moves closer to becoming a saint after she was declared by the Vatican as "venerable", the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Saturday.

The CBCP said Pope Francis bestowed the title on Mother Francisca Del Espiritu Santo De Fuentes, the founder of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena.

This is the second of four steps in becoming a saint. The next is the beatification where a miracle attributed to her will need to be recognized by Pope Francis for her to earn the title "blessed." Another miracle will then have to be recognized in the canonization stage, which will lead to her declaration as a saint.

Mother Francisca died in Manila in 1711 and was buried in the Church of the Collegio de San Juan de Letran, according to the CBCP.

Last month, Pope Francis also declared as venerable Mother Maria Beatrice Rosario Arroyo, a Filipina nun who founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary.

There are currently two Filipino saints: Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod.