Pedro Ballester’s sainthood cause advances after life of faith and suffering

The Diocese of Salford announced that a young adult from England who died at 21 of cancer is on the way to possibly being named a saint.

Excitement is growing in the United Kingdom after an English diocese announced that a young man with “enormous faith” is officially on the way to possibly being named a saint, following in the footsteps of Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Pedro Ballester, who was born in Manchester, died on Jan. 13, 2018, at the age of 21 of bone cancer after a life of prayer, sacrifice, and virtue. In a May 13 statement, the Diocese of Salford announced: “We are pleased to announce the opening of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Pedro Ballester, a young Manchester man whose life of faith and witness continues to inspire many.

“The opening of this cause marks an important step in recognizing the life and witness of a young man whose example of faith, especially in the face of suffering, continues to resonate with many people today.”

The announcement marks the first step on the path to sainthood, with the diocese calling for “accounts, memories, writings attributed to Pedro, including diaries, letters,” which “may help establish Pedro’s reputation for holiness.” Over 60 people who knew Ballester, including family and friends, have already been interviewed by Church authorities.

Speaking to EWTN News, Father Joseph Evans, chaplain of Greygarth Hall, Manchester, who accompanied Ballester during the last year of his life, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is great news. Many young people today, particularly young men, are showing a renewed interest in faith and theyʼre looking for authentic models. Theyʼre tired of a society based on softness and falsehood where comfort and ease are presented as the ultimate goals.”

Ballester was born into a Catholic family and his Spanish parents, who moved to England for professional reasons, are married members of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church founded in Spain by St. Josemaría Escrivá in 1928. Ballester himself joined Opus Dei in 2013 as a “numerary” member — meaning he made a commitment to celibacy for life and living out the charism of Opus Dei in the world.

After winning a place at Imperial College in London to study chemical engineering in 2014, Ballester experienced intense back pain during his first semester, after which he was diagnosed with advanced cancer of the pelvis. He then went to Christie’s Hospital, Manchester, for cancer treatment, where his faith and kindness were noticed as he sought to bring his frequent visitors closer to God.

Evans underlined how Ballester’s life can empower people to follow Christ in the midst of suffering, saying: “Pedroʼs three years of suffering were very far from comfort and ease. He suffered enormously but also with enormous faith.”

Ballester’s suffering worsened after his cancer diagnosis and he regularly experienced acute pain leading up to his death, yet Evans pointed out that the young man “found happiness in deep self-giving and deep suffering.”

He said: “He truly found Christ along the hard way, but he followed him with great joy.”

The Diocese of Salford is now in the process of reviewing Ballester’s life, acknowledging that “over the years since his death, his reputation for holiness has grown significantly.” This information-gathering exercise is the first step to canonization, prior to an extensive investigation by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who will explore whether Ballester lived a life of “heroic virtue and holiness” and should become a saint.

Jack Valero from Opus Dei, which is promoting Ballester’s cause for sainthood, told EWTN News he is “delighted” at the announcement, adding that young people are “very inspired” by Ballester’s life.

“We have had reports from many different countries of people who obtain favors from God after praying through Pedro’s intercession,” Valero said. “Many young people are very inspired by Pedro, a man who was always happy and thinking of others even in the midst of terrible suffering.”

Valero also commented that some of these reports can be found on the website dedicated to Ballesterʼs life and cause. In one account, Blanca, 15, from Asturias, Spain, was in a life-threatening condition after she suffered a serious stroke in November 2023. Following major brain surgery, family and friends called for Ballester’s intercession. Blanca made a significant recovery, which doctors called “a miracle,” and she left hospital on Dec. 11, 2023.

The Diocese of Salford paid tribute to Ballester’s “remarkable serenity and faith,” and Evans said he is hopeful that this first step will lead to his canonization and inspire young people in their “search for Christ.”

“Pedro offers young people today a model of an authentic search for Christ, knowing that this also has to mean embracing the cross. Yet if we do so, this brings joy,” he said.