Pope canonizes three new saints in St. Peter's Square



October 24, 2011. (Romereports.com) The Catholic Church welcomed three new saints when Benedict XVI canonized Luigi Guanella, Guido Maria Conforti and Boniface Rodriguez in St. Peter's Square. All three have unique stories. The Italian bishop, Guido Maria Conforti, founded the Xaverian Missionaries. He always showed an interest in being a missionary, but because of health issues it wasn't possible. The ceremony was symbolic since it took place on World Mission Day.


Benedict XVI
“He was the first to give a testimony of what he had experienced. He taught his missionaries that perfection consists in doing the will of God according to the model of Jesus on the Cross.”

When speaking about Luigi Guanella, the pope highlighted his compassion toward the needy. Benedict XVI said the new saint was “an apostle of charity.” Listening on the front row, were a group of handicapped people, who receive help from the Don Guanella Center.

Benedict XVI
“In his testimony, full of humanity and care of the forgotten, we recognize a luminous presence and action of God.”

While speaking in Spanish, the pope also honored the role of St. Boniface Rodríguez, who founded the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph. She dedicated her life to helping poor women gain economic independence.

Benedict XVI
"Through her intercession, we ask God for all workers, especially those who do modest trades and who are sometimes not valued enough. We pray that in the midst of their daily work, they may discover the friendly hand of God. That they may bear witness to His love and in doing so, transform their fatigue into a song of praise for our Creator.”

During the ceremony, the people who led these causes for canonization, greeted the pope and thanked him.

William Glesson says he's living proof of a miracle. Through the intercession of Luigi Guanella, the young American was cured from a serious neck injury. During the ceremony he carried a relic of Don Guanella before presenting it to the pope.
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