Marianne Cope

Who was Marianne Cope?

Marianne Cope, O.S.F., also known as the Saint Marianne of Molokaʻi, was a German-born American who was a member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Syracuse, New York. Known for her charitable works and virtuous deeds, she spent many years caring for lepers on the island of Molokaʻi in Hawaiʻi. Despite direct contact with the patients over many years, Cope was not afflicted by the disease, which some faithful consider miraculous.

In 2005 Cope was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. Cope was declared a saint by the same pope on October 21, 2012, along with the young 17th-century Native American, Kateri Tekawitha. Cope is the 11th American citizen to be honored by the Catholic Church.