N. Julia Russell, artist
Universal Saints
from CNN,
Pope Francis canonized the first saints of his papacy -- including the first ever honored from Colombia and Mexico -- at a Mass on Sunday at St. Peter's Square, according to the Vatican website.
Laura Montoya of Colombia and Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala of Mexico were made saints for their work as nuns in their home countries.Pope Francis also canonized 800 Italian martyrs who refused to convert to Islam in the 15th century and were beheaded.
"Let us look on the new saints in the light of the word of God proclaimed, a word that invited us to be faithful to Christ, even unto martyrdom; a word that recalled to us the urgency and the beauty of bringing Christ and his Gospel to everyone; a word that spoke to us about the witness of charity, without which even martyrdom and mission lose their Christian savour," he said.
Read the entire article.
Visit the Vatican's website.