Joe Drape Joe Drape is a reporter for The New York Times and the author of seven bestselling books, including The Saint Makers: Inside the Catholic Church and How a War Hero Inspired a Journey of Faith. By this Author Mar 08, 2025 American priest Emil Kapaun one step closer to sainthoodFr. Emil Kapaun, a military chaplain who served during two wars, was decreed "Venerable" by the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the direction of Pope Francis, moving him one step closer to possible sainthood.