The ecclesiastical confirmation of the authenticity of the relics is called authentication. It is usually a document that, together with the papal or cardinal seal, proves the origin and originality of the relics. Older authenticates tend to be handwritten. From the 17th century, they tended to be printed on paper, because the number of relics distributed was enormous and the need to reduce bureaucracy was considerable. Without true papal authentication, these would be only ordinary human relics, not saints.
The relics of the alleged martyrs from the Roman catacombs were distributed to Europe by a request to the Pope, which could only be done in two ways, either by a letter to the Vatican or by a personal meeting with the Pope or his representative.
In most cases, the issuance of the authentication was entrusted by the Pope to the Cardinal Vicar, to whom the relics went immediately after their removal from the catacombs. The problem usually arose regarding the name of the saint, as it was not always preserved on the tomb in the catacombs. Therefore, a new name was eventually assigned to the saint, and the individual was "baptized" and their new Names were assigned according to lists.