In the Catholic Church, if the Pope beatifies someone, he makes an official statement that this dead person lived a holy life and may now be honoured in a limited, public way. The Church then calls that person Blessed (not yet Saint). It is one step on a long, careful path: people gather proof of a good life, and — in the usual modern practice — a miracle is often needed; later, if the Church goes further, the person may be made a saint (canonised). Martyrs are treated a little differently. You will hear this word almost only in Church news and history. People sometimes stretch it in newspapers to mean “treat someone as perfect,” but that is loose talk, not the real Church act. Do not mix it up with beautify, which only means “make something look prettier.”

宣福（天主教；列為「真福」。下一步才是封聖）