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Pope Benedict Proclaims 6 New Saints

   Sabina Castelfranco | Rome 17 October 2010
   Faithful  hold  a  banner  of  Saint  Mary  of the Cross MacKillop, of
   Australia,  during a Canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI
   in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

Photo: AP

   Faithful  hold  a  banner  of  Saint  Mary  of the Cross MacKillop, of
   Australia,  during a Canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI
   in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

   Tens  of  thousands  of  faithful  attended  an  open-air canonization
   ceremony  in  Saint  Peter's  Square. Pope Benedict proclaimed six new
   saints, including the first from Canada and Australia.
   It  was  a  festive occasion in Saint Peter's Square with Canadian and
   Australian flags being held by the faithful who cameĀ  to take part in
   Sunday's ceremony.
   Pope  Benedict  raised  the first Canadian, 19th century Father Andre'
   Bessette  and the first Australian, 19th century nun Mary MacKillop to
   sainthood.
   In  his  homily,  the  pope  said Father Andre' Bessette, from Quebec,
   became known early on for his suffering and poverty.
   Australia's  first  saint,  Mary  MacKillop, established the country's
   first  religious  order,  the  Congregation  of  the  Sisters of Saint
   Joseph, devoted to the poor and needy.
   "For  many years countless young people throughout Australia have been
   blessed  with teachers who were inspired by the courageous and saintly
   example  of  zeal,  perseverance and prayer of Mother Mary MacKillop,"
   the Pope said.
   MacKillop  was a strong-willed woman who sometimes clashed with church
   authorities.  She  was  excommunicated for exposing sexual abuse by an
   Irish Catholic priest in 1969.
   The  other saints proclaimed by the pope today were from Poland, Spain
   and  Italy.  The  pope  told  those gathered to allow themselves to be
   attracted  by  these  shining  examples  and to allow themselves to be
   guided by their teaching.

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