Pope Leo XIV has confirmed Lazarus Devasahayam, an 18th century Indian saint, as the patron of the laity in the country, the Latin bishops’ conference announced on September 20. The July 16 confirmation came through the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. It follows a petition submitted by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), the national body of the Latin rite prelates in the country.
The official proclamation of the patronage will take place on October 15 during Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Varanasi. The event will coincide with the annual national meeting of the diocesan and regional secretaries of the CCBI Laity Commission, gathering representatives from dioceses across India, the conference stated.
Saint Lazarus Devasahayam (1712–1752) was a Hindu convert to Christianity and the first layman and martyr from India to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Born Neelakanda Pillai in Nattalam, Tamil Nadu, he served as a court official in the Kingdom of Travancore. Drawn to the Christian faith, he converted in 1745 and was baptized as Lazarus (Devasahayam in Tamil, meaning “God is my help”). His conversion led to persecution, imprisonment, and torture for refusing to renounce his faith. He was executed in 1752.
He was beatified on December 2, 2012, at Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, in a ceremony presided over by Salesian Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis canonized him on May 15, 2022, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, proclaiming him a model of courage, faith, and commitment to justice. The Catholic Church has no single patron for the entire laity. It has recognized different saints as patrons of various aspects and groups within the laity, such as Saint Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) for laypeople living a holy life in the world and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) as a patron for young adults.
