So show me the proof where God himself declared this person or that a Saint. We can show definitive proof that men/women have honored people as Saints. While other sects of Christianity may indeed proclaim someone a Saint, the preponderance of Saints, through out history, have been so proclaimed within the Catholic Church. Nor is it even limited to just Christianity, as the Jewish religion did the same, but were usually not referred to as Saints.
Thus I was speaking more in general terms rather than speaking in literal terms when I said the Pope. I did so because he is the most recognizable head of a church structure, and Sainthood is associated by most everyone as a Catholic designation.
If you can provide undeniable proof that everyone who who has been proclaimed a Saint, did so with direct communication through God, then I will acquiesce. Until then it is a function controlled entirely by mankind within the hierarchy of the church structure.
Your own link notes there is 'no definitive "head count"' of the number of people named a saint by the Pope. The Catholic Church didn't even keep exact records of canonizations until the Middle Ages, long after the Popes had started to proclaim saints. Also, several people "officially" named saints by the Catholic Church in the past, like St. Christopher and Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln, are no longer seen as such.
So whether you believe God or the Pope is the ultimate authority of who is considered a saint (I believe its God), you will NEVER get a "definitive list" of who is a saint from either method. Sorry to disappoint.
If you said that in a country like Russia, they'd be highly offended by the idea. It's home to a huge segment of Christianity and they've been naming saints for centuries without any input from the Pope or the Catholic Church, and sometimes in direct opposition to the Catholic Church's thoughts on the matter.
For example, St Herman of Alaska is widely recognized as a saint and has been named the patron saint of North America for Orthodox Christians. He's even been recognized as such by the U.S. Congress. But the Catholic Church, the Vatican, and the Pope had no say whatsoever in this process.
People who think designating sainthood is only exercised by Catholic Popes must not have a good understanding of Christian history.