On Sunday, Pope Francis will preside at the Vatican for the canonization of 14 Blesseds. Eleven of them are martyrs. They are the eight Franciscans and three lay people killed in 1860 in Syria by Druze militiamen.
The last canonization presided over by Pope Francis was in February of this year, when he declared an Argentinean woman a saint for the first time: Mama Antula.
POPE FRANCIS
Brothers and sisters, God loves us in this way and if we allow ourselves to be touched by Him, we too, with the power of His Spirit, can become witnesses of the love that saves.
At some canonizations, familiar faces from the political sphere can be seen. The president of Argentina, for example, Javier Milei, was present. It was the occasion that led to the first meeting between the two leaders.
By the time Sunday's canonization ends, Pope Francis will have declared 912 people saints during his pontificate. The date of another long-awaited canonization is expected to be announced shortly: that of the young Carlo Acutis.
TR: JD
