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New Catholic Saints Include a Colombian Nun New Catholic Saints Include a Colombian Nun
(about 5 hours later)
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday gave the Catholic Church a number of new saints, including hundreds of 15th-century martyrs who were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam, as he led his first canonization ceremony in a crowded St. Peter’s Square.VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday gave the Catholic Church a number of new saints, including hundreds of 15th-century martyrs who were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam, as he led his first canonization ceremony in a crowded St. Peter’s Square.
The “Martyrs of Otranto” were 813 Italians who were slain in the southern Italian city in 1480 for defying demands by Turkish invaders who overran the citadel to renounce Christianity. Their approval for sainthood was made by Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, in a decree read at the ceremony in February where the former pontiff announced his retirement. The “Martyrs of Otranto” were 813 Italians who were killed in the southern Italian city in 1480 for defying demands by Turkish invaders who overran the citadel to renounce Christianity. Their approval for sainthood was made by Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, in a decree read at the ceremony in February where the former pontiff announced his retirement.
Shortly after his election in March, Francis called for more dialogue with Islam, and it was not clear how the granting of sainthood to the martyrs would be received. Islam is a sensitive issue for the church, and Benedict struggled in his relationship with Muslims. Shortly after his election in March, Francis called for more dialogue with Islam, and it was not clear how the granting of sainthood to the martyrs would be received. Islam is a delicate issue for the church, and Benedict struggled in his relationship with Muslims.
Francis, the first pontiff from South America, also gave Colombia its first saint: a nun who toiled as a teacher and spiritual guide to indigenous people in the 20th century.Francis, the first pontiff from South America, also gave Colombia its first saint: a nun who toiled as a teacher and spiritual guide to indigenous people in the 20th century.
With Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos among the dignitaries watching, Francis held out Laura of St. Catherine of Siena Montoya y Upegui as a potential source of inspiration to the country’s peace process, attempted after decades of conflict between rebels and government forces.With Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos among the dignitaries watching, Francis held out Laura of St. Catherine of Siena Montoya y Upegui as a potential source of inspiration to the country’s peace process, attempted after decades of conflict between rebels and government forces.
He also canonized another Latin American woman. Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, a Mexican who dedicated herself to nursing the sick, helped Catholics avoid persecution during a government crackdown of the faith in the 1920s.He also canonized another Latin American woman. Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, a Mexican who dedicated herself to nursing the sick, helped Catholics avoid persecution during a government crackdown of the faith in the 1920s.
Francis prayed that the new Mexican saint’s intercession could help the nation “eradicate all the violence and insecurity,” an apparent reference to years of bloodshed and other crime largely linked to powerful drug trafficking clans.Francis prayed that the new Mexican saint’s intercession could help the nation “eradicate all the violence and insecurity,” an apparent reference to years of bloodshed and other crime largely linked to powerful drug trafficking clans.
After shaking hands with the prelates and dignitaries in the front rows at the end of the Mass, Francis shed his ceremonial vestments. Wearing a plain white cassock, he climbed into an open white popemobile to ride up and down the security paths surrounding the crowd of more than 60,000.After shaking hands with the prelates and dignitaries in the front rows at the end of the Mass, Francis shed his ceremonial vestments. Wearing a plain white cassock, he climbed into an open white popemobile to ride up and down the security paths surrounding the crowd of more than 60,000.
He stopped to pat children on the head, kiss babies and bantered in his native Spanish with some at the edge of the crowd.He stopped to pat children on the head, kiss babies and bantered in his native Spanish with some at the edge of the crowd.