Pope Francis canonizes 14 new saints, including priests martyred in Syria
On Sunday October 20 2024, Pope Francis canonized 14 new Saints:
Three brothers, François, Mooti and Raphaël Massabki, including a father of eight. These lay Maronite Catholics, along with Manuel Ruiz, were martyred alongside the 7 Franciscan friars in Syria in 1860 for their steadfast refusal to abandon their Christian faith in favour of Islam. The canonisation took place during a Mass in St Peter’s Square, during which the Pope recognised these people for their extraordinary commitment to the Church and their unshakeable faith, even in the face of death. Eleven people now known as the ‘Martyrs of Damascus’.
Three religious founders from the 19th century:
Giuseppe Allamano, an Italian diocesan priest who founded the order ‘Missionary of the Consolata’, Marie-Léonie Paradis, a nun from Montreal who created an order to support priests ‘Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family’, Elena Guerra, Italian, celebrated as an ‘apostle of the Holy Spirit’ Congregation of Oblates of the Holy Spirit, known as the ‘Sisters of Saint Zita’.
Pope Francis congratulated them on their selflessness, dedication and perseverance.
‘These new saints have lived in the manner of Jesus: through service,’ he said. ‘They have become servants of their brothers and sisters, showing creativity in their kindness, strength in their trials and boundless generosity.’
During the ceremony, thousands of pilgrims in prayer witnessed the canonization of these 14 saints by Pope Francis, who recognized them as examples for the universal Catholic Church. ‘We ask for their intercession so that we too can follow Christ, serve others and become beacons of hope for the world’, said the Pope.
In his homily, the Pope stressed that service was at the heart of the life of every new saint. ‘When we learn to serve, every little gesture of kindness and attention becomes an echo of God’s love,’ he said. ‘This is how we continue the work of Jesus in the world.
Pilgrims from various countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Canada, Italy, Spain and the Middle East, Franciscan friars and Maronite Catholics, and members of various congregations attended the canonization of their founder. Traditional bagpipe music from Galicia, Spain, was played at the end of the Mass to honour the Spanish Franciscans who were martyred in Damascus.
At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis invited the faithful to pray the Angelus, urging everyone to pray for peace, especially for those suffering the hardships of war in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar. He also greeted the Ugandan pilgrims who had come to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the canonisation of the Ugandan martyrs.
On the occasion of World Mission Sunday, the Pope called on the faithful to pray and support missionaries, who often dedicate themselves at their own risk to bringing the Gospel to the four corners of the world. ‘May the Virgin Mary help us, together with the saints, to be courageous and joyful witnesses to the Gospel’, he concluded.