In Catholic teaching, a relic is an object connected to a saint. This connection can be a part of their body, something they owned, or something they touched. Relics play a role in the canonization process, a rigorous Church investigation into a candidate's life. The existence of relics, while not a primary requirement, can provide tangible evidence of holiness, supplementing testimonies and miracles. Their presence contributes to the overall picture built during the recognized stage of the process. The accumulation of evidence, including the consideration of relics, leads to a declaration by the Pope confirming the candidate's sainthood. The veneration of relics is thus intrinsically tied to the Church's formal recognition of a person's holiness.