The first of 13 decrees authorized on July 3 by Pope Benedict XVI advancing certain causes of sainthood was for Blessed Damien. The last was for Chiara Badano, who died of bone cancer in 1990 just three weeks before her 19th birthday, recognizing her heroic virtues and declaring her “venerable.”

Born in Italy on Oct. 29, 1971, the only child of a truck driver and his wife, Chiara was a generous, happy child who always thought of others. As a teenager, she was popular and good at tennis, swimming and mountain-climbing. She had some difficulty with school work, particularly math, but she loved singing and dancing and wanted to be a flight attendant.

Chiara was a devoted lay member of Focolare, an international movement dedicated to the spirituality of unity.

Around the age of 16, while playing tennis, she experienced a sharp pain in her shoulder which turned out to be cancer. Through her illness she was known particularly for the way she encouraged and consoled the groups of young people who would come to her bedside to offer her encouragement and consolation.

She died on Oct. 7, 1990.