How Many Saints Are There?

Because the Church shows no true distinction between the living and the dead (the saints are considered to be alive in Heaven), saints are referred to as if they were still alive.

icon-home » Cardinal Newman » Becoming a Saint » What is a Saint? » How Many Saints Are There?

Saints are venerated but not worshipped. They are believed to be able to intercede for salvation and help humanity either through direct communion with God, or by personal intervention.

  • One Catholic website states that “There are over 10,000 named saints and beati (blessed, holy people) from history, the Roman Martyrology and Orthodox sources, but there has been no definitive head count”. Taken from the Catholic Online website.
  • The Catholic Church teaches that it does not, in fact, make anyone a saint. Rather, it recognises a saint.