Brother Nazareno of Pula has been declared Venerable. The Holy See announced the news. Leo XIV, after receiving Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing "the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Nazareno (née Giovanni Zucca), a friar of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, born January 21, 1911, in Pula, and died February 29, 1992, in Cagliari." In the Catholic Church, being declared Venerable is the second of four official steps toward canonization. This title is conferred by the Pope when the Congregation for the Causes of Saints recognizes that the "Servant of God" lived the Christian virtues in a heroic manner. Brother Nazareno lived in Africa for a long time, engaged in war operations. During that time, he was also held prisoner in an English concentration camp.
Upon returning to Sardinia, he joined the Capuchin Friars Minor under the spiritual guidance of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. A cook, beggar, and doorkeeper, he assisted the poor and sick until his death on February 29, 1992. His charisma and the love he gave to the most vulnerable and needy people have earned him a reputation for sanctity over the years.
Father Roberto Sardu is promoting the cause for beatification and preserving the memory of Brother Nazareno in Pula, in the locality of Is Molas, where the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation is located. "I am delighted with the news from Rome," he told Unionesarda.it. "It is a moment of great joy for the community of Capuchin friars and for all the Sardinian faithful who continue to keep the memory of Brother Nazareno alive."
