How long did it take for Joan of Arc to become a saint?
Joan of Arc was canonized as a saint exactly 489 years after she was executed.
Executed in 1431, Joan of Arc was not declared a saint until May 16, 1920. This long delay occurred because the Church was initially embarrassed by its role in her death. While a 1456 trial cleared her of heresy, sainthood required proof of miracles rather than military success. It took nearly five centuries and the verification of two medical miracles for Pope Benedict XV to finally grant her sainthood.
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Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, on May 30, 1431, after a politically motivated trial led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Although a 'Nullification Trial' authorized by Pope Callixtus III in 1456 declared her innocent of heresy, it did not grant her sainthood. The formal cause for her canonization did not begin until 1869, led by Bishop Félix Dupanloup of Orléans, amid a surge of French national pride.The Catholic Church requires proof of 'heroic virtue' and verified miracles for canonization. Joan's military victories were considered historical events rather than supernatural acts, so investigators had to find specific medical cures attributed to her intercession. In 1909, Pope Pius X beatified her after the Church recognized three miraculous healings of nuns suffering from incurable ailments like chronic ulcers and tuberculosis.The final push for sainthood occurred during the turmoil of World War I. On May 16, 1920, Pope Benedict XV presided over the canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica before a crowd of 30,000 people. This event officially recognized her as the Patron Saint of France. The 489-year gap remains one of the most significant delays for a major historical figure in the history of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Verified Fact
FP-0009692 · Feb 22, 2026