In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis declared the 14 new saints for the Catholic Church. The list included eleven “Martyrs of Damascus,” and three nineteenth-century founders of religious orders. All of them commended for living their lives through service in the ways of Jesus Christ.
These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service. They made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing good, steadfast in difficulties, and generous to the end. – Pope Francis
The New Saints
Here are the new canonized saints:
St. Giuseppe Allamano
The founder of Consolata Missionary Orders and an Italian diocesan priest
St. Marie-Léonie Paradis
A nun and the founder of an order intended for servicing priests in Montreal, Canada.
St. Elena Guerra
Hailed as the “Apostle of the Holy Spirit,” St. Elena Guerra is known for her writings and devotionals.
The Martyrs of Damascus
St. Manuel Ruiz López and his seven Franciscan companions were canonized 160 years after their deaths from the hands of Syrian prosecutors
The Siblings
St. Francis, St. Mooti, and St. Raphael Massabki are siblings who are also lay Maronite Catholics and were martyred in Syria with the seven Martyrs of Damascus.
A Beacon of Hope
The canonization of the new saints is a sign of hope in the never ending battle of spirituality and religion. They are symbols of steadfast faith even in the midst of unforgiving situations, such as during a war or more so, in the face of death.
When we learn to serve, our every gesture of attention and care, every expression of tenderness, every work of mercy becomes a reflection of God’s love. And so we continue Jesus’ work in the world
The Gospel for the Mass was spoken in Greek along with the Latin translations in honor of the 11 Martyrs of Damascus, to pay respect and homage for their sacrifices during their lives.
Pilgrims from around the world, such as from the Middle East, Canada, Kenya, Spain, Italy, and Uganda traveled to Rome to pray for and witness the canonization, in which the Pope was grateful for the support.
