'Saint' Death condemned by Vatican

Santa Muerte fuelled by drug wars

A statue of Santa Muerte (Photo Credit: Toni Francois)

A skeletal female figure of death is exploding into popularity in Mexico, Central America, and some parts of the United States.

Yet despite her saintly name, Santa Muerte is not a recognized saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In 2013, Vatican officials condemned devotion to her, saying it was "the celebration of devastation and of hell."

"It's not every day that a folk saint is actually condemned at the highest levels of the Vatican," Andrew Chesnut, a Santa Muerte expert who has been studying the devotion for eight years, told CNA.

Santa Muerte is highly favoured by the criminal underworld, working class, and the marginalized of society. For more information about Santa Muerte's history and background, read CNA's article here.