Pope Francis canonization: Can the late pontiff become a saint?

For a long time, being a pope was like getting a golden ticket, not just to heaven but to the official sainthood VIP lounge. In the early centuries of the Roman Catholic Church, sainthood was practically a parting gift. According to The New York Post, of the first 50 popes, 48 were sainted. Fast forward 2,000 years and that automatic upgrade is not happening anymore. So can Pope Francis become Saint Francis? Getty Images Pope Francis greets faithful during his weekly audience at St. Peter's Square on May 15, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty . . .