Alumnus Father Emil Kapaun, M.A. 1948, a heroic U.S. military chaplain from Kansas, was declared venerable by Pope Francis on Feb. 25 – putting him one step closer to canonization. He could be the first saint to be a Medal of Honor recipient.
The Holy Father recognized Father Kapaun’s “offering of life,” a new cause for beatification distinct from martyrdom that recognizes Christians who have freely offered their lives for others until death.
University Board of Trustees Member Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said in a statement that it was “a great joy to read the news... of the approval by the Bishop of Rome that Father Kapaun indeed sacrificed his life here in order to give life to others… At the Archdiocese, we are looking forward to the next steps in this process to offer another witness of faith for the Church universal.”
Father Kapaun served as a U.S. Army chaplain during World War II and the Korean War. He was captured by the North Korean military and died ministering to fellow prisoners in 1951. Widely recognized for his bravery and holiness, Pope Saint John Paul II declared Kapaun a Servant of God in 1993, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013.
“Either one of these distinctions is, by all standards, remarkable, but for one person to receive both indicates a significant life,” according to the University’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Services. “He represents the best of military traditions and Church life, and is an inspiration to all of us — especially to student veterans attending Catholic University.”
After serving in the Chinese-Burma-India theater in World War II long after many had returned to the United States, Kapaun earned a master’s in education at The Catholic University of America before voluntarily returning to service as a military chaplain in Japan and then Korea. During his time at Catholic University, Kapaun was known as a devoted student and friend, who was well-liked by all on campus.
His cause for sainthood is being led by the Diocese of Wichita, where he was ordained, served as priest, and now is buried. For more on Father Kapaun’s life and legacy, visit University Archives.
