There are billions of saints. No one on Earth knows all of their names. About half of them are female including the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Saints are people in heaven or on their way to heaven. All Christians dead and alive are saints.
The Catholic Church selects some of the most extraordinary examples, does in-depth research, and canonizes them.
Canonization is the solemn declaration by the Pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor (not mediator) to the Christian faithful on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom.
Here is the modern method of canonization:
In order to allow greater objectivity and less emotion, no petition for sainthood can be made until at least 5 years after the candidate’s death.
+ Diocesan Investigation +
A diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association asks the bishop of the diocese in which the candidate died to open the investigation. After Vatican approval, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal.
Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount the candidate’s heroic exercise of Christian virtues. All documents regarding the candidate must be gathered.
At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.
+ Vatican Investigation +
All documentation is passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.
The cause undergoes an examination by nine theologians.
If passed, the cause is for examined by the Congregation.
If passed, the cause is presented to the Pope for approval. A decree is published and read publicly.
+ Beatification +
A miracle attributed to the Servant of God is necessary.
The miracle must be proven through an appropriate investigation and another decree is issued.
Then the Pope decides on beatification.
With beatification, the candidate receives the title of Blessed.
+ Canonization +
Another miracle occurring after beatification is needed for canonization (sainthood), attributed to the Blessed’s intercession.
This miracle must again be proven through an appropriate investigation.
Papal infallibility is involved with canonization.
The Blessed acquires the title of Saint.
http://www.usccb.org/comm/SaintsFinal.pdf
For the latest beatifications and canonizations, see: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/index_canoniz-beat_en.html
+ With love in Christ.