What would a person need to be able to do to be a saint while he was yet alive? Normally, sainthood isn't formally considered for an individual until 5 years after the death of a person. If one was determined enough, how could they go about achieving becoming saints and perhaps even become recognized as such by the the Pope, after, and moreover, before one’s death?
What would a person need to be able to do to be a saint while he was yet alive?
Formally declared saints are chosen ultimately by the pope, but only after a thorough investigation of the life, writings, and legacy of the saint candidate. No stone is left unturned. Testimony from witnesses and experts, physical evidence, and the entire life of the person is examined with fine detail. Every skeleton in the closet is taken out, and all dirty laundry looked at — if any exists, that is.
The classic requirements for consideration would be as follows:


Evidence of having led an exemplary life of goodness and virtue worthy of imitation, having died a heroic death (martyrdom), or having undergone a major conversion of heart where a previous immoral life is abandoned and replaced by one of outstanding holiness - What Are the Requirements for Sainthood?


Most Roman theologians consider the minimum time of living a saintly life after an immoral lifestyle is abandoned to be five (5) years although exceptions could be made.
On July 11, 2014, Pope Francis slightly somewhat altered these requirements.

Pope Francis has introduced a new pathway to Catholic sainthood, recognizing those who sacrifice their lives for others.
The new category, introduced in a official letter from the pope on Tuesday, is &quot;one of the most significant changes in centuries to the Roman Catholic Church's saint-making procedures,&quot; Reuters reports.
Before the change, there were three categories that provided a path to sainthood: being killed for the faith (martyrdom), living a life heroically of Christian virtues and having a strong reputation for religious devotion. The process of becoming a saint begins after an individual's death.
According to the Vatican's official news service, the new category has five main criteria:

The individual must freely and voluntarily offer their life in the face of &quot;a certain and soon-to-come death&quot;

There must be a &quot;close relation&quot; between &quot;the offering of one's life and the premature death of the one who offers it.&quot;

The person must show Christian virtues, at least to an ordinary extent, before and after offering their life.

They must have a &quot;reputation for holiness&quot; at least after their death.

They must have performed a miracle. This is a major difference from the &quot;martyrdom&quot; category, which does not require a miracle.


Archbishop Marcello Bartolucci, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes, said that this is intended &quot;to promote heroic Christian testimony, (that has been) up to now without a specific process, precisely because it did not completely fit within the case of martyrdom or heroic virtues,&quot; according to Catholic News Service.
The current categories are insufficient &quot;for interpreting all possible cases,&quot; Bartolucci added.
The pope's letter announcing the new category is called &quot;Maiorem hac dilectionem,&quot; which is taken from this passage in the Gospel of John: &quot;Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
According to The Associated Press, &quot;examples of people who might fall into that category include those who take the place of someone condemned to death or expectant mothers with fatal diseases who suspend treatment so their babies can be born.&quot; - Pope Francis Announces New Path To Sainthood

The point that ”they must have a ‘reputation for holiness’ at least after their death,” reminds me of the life of St. Benedict Labre when he died:

Benedict Joseph Labre probably evoked similar feelings in many who encountered him, and yet when he died the cry went up “the saint is dead! the saint is dead!”

Further information may be gleaned from the following article(s):

Pope approves new path to sainthood: heroic act of loving service