The new saints are:
-Charles de Foucauld: A French soldier and explorer who became a Trappist monk and Catholic missionary to the Muslims of Algeria. Known as Brother Charles of Jesushe was killed in 1916 at the age of 58.
-Titus Brandsma: A Dutch priest, professor and journalist who opposed Nazi propaganda in Catholic newspapers. He has been killed by lethal injection at Dachau in 1942.
– Devasahayam Pillai: A layman from India who was tortured and martyred after his conversion from Hinduism to Catholicism in the 18th century.
-Marie Rivier: The founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation. La Française founded the order in 1796, at the age of 28during the Reign of Terror.
-Maria Francesca of Jesus: A 19th century missionary foundress who crossed the Atlantic Ocean seven times by boat to establish an order of Capuchin Sisters in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
-Maria Domenica Mantovani: The first Superior General of the Institute of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, who she co-founded to serve the poor, orphans and sick in Italy in 1892.
-Mary of Jesus Santocanaland: The founder of the Capuchin Sisters of the Immaculate Mary of Lourdes in Sicily in 1910. She spent most of her free time, day and night, in front of the tabernacle.
-Caesar of Bus: French Catholic priest who founded two religious congregations in the 16th century. He was a zealous preacher and catechist, who did many works of charity.
-Luigi Maria Palazzolo: An Italian priest known for founding the Sisters of the Poor, opening an orphanage and working for the poor.
–Giustino Maria Russolillo: Founder of the religious congregations of the Vocationist Fathers, the Vocationist Sisters and the Secular Institute of the Apostles of Universal Sanctification in Italy. The priest devotes himself to the education of young people and the cultivation of their vocations.
The canonization mass was attended by around 45,000 people, many of whom came from outside Italy.
Those present in St. Peter’s Square also included Italian President Sergio Mattarella, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra, Indian Minister for Minorities Gingee KS Mathan and Algerian President of the Bouabdellah Ghoulamallah Islamic High Committee.
In remarks at the end of the Mass before Regina Caeli’s prayers, the pope greeted the official delegations from several countries who had attended the canonizations. He also greeted all the faithful around the world who had attended the mass.
Pope Francis encouraged Catholic Christians to imitate the example of the saints.
“It is good to see that, through their evangelical witness, these saints have fostered the spiritual and social growth of their respective nations and also of the whole human family,” the pope said. “As, sadly, in the world, distances widen and tensions and wars increase, may the new saints inspire solutions of unity and ways of dialogue, especially in the hearts and minds of those who hold positions of great responsibility and are called to be agents of peace, not war.
