Patronage in Catholic teaching refers to the special protection a saint offers to a particular person, place, or cause. This isn't a formal part of the canonization process itself, but it develops afterward. After a person is declared a saint following a rigorous Church investigation, including the gathering of evidence of holiness and a recognized stage of beatification, their patronage emerges organically. Devotees begin associating the saint with certain needs or vocations based on their life and miracles. This association is not determined by the Vatican but is instead a popular expression of faith. The declaration by the Pope establishing sainthood is solely about the person's holiness; patronage is a subsequent and distinct phenomenon.