In 1925 the Church officially declared Thérèse a Saint. For a canonization, the Pope, for the first time in more than fifty years, ordered that Peter's Basilica be outlined with torches and lamps.

Later Thérèse was named Saint Patroness of France along with Joan of Arc. Thérèse, with St Francis of Xavier, is also the patron Saint of foreign missionaries.

In 1997, a hundred years after Thérèse's death, the Church declared her  Doctor of the Church. At that time only two women were Doctors: St Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena.