Pope Leo grants Fr Edward Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, ‘venerable’ status
Fr Edward Flanagan died in 1948 – he is now on the road to sainthood
An Irish priest who pioneered a new model of care for disadvantaged boys in the US and was the subject of a Hollywood film has moved a step closer to sainthood.
On Monday, Pope Leo announced that Co Roscommon priest Fr Edward Flanagan, who died in 1948, had been recognised as venerable. This means he is two miracles away from becoming a saint.