October 12, 2009. It was no ordinary Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. Benedict XVI named five new saints during a solemn ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica.



Benedict XVI
“Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, Francisco Coll y Guitart, Jozef Damiaan de Veuster, Rafael Arnáiz Barón and Marie de la Croix (Jeanne) Jugan. It’s in them that we see Peter’s words realized: We have left everything to follow you.”

Two of the new saints were Spanish. The other three came from Poland, France and Belgium.

The pope praised all five saints for their selfless commitment in helping others.

Benedict XVI
“Their perfection, in the logic of a faith that is at times humanly incomprehensible, consists in no longer placing themselves at the center, but choosing to go against the tide and live according to the Gospel.”

Pilgrims from all over the world travelled to St. Peter’s for the canonization. The prime minister of France, the president of Poland and the King and Queen of Belgium also attended.

The ceremony was moved inside the basilica due to rain, but the pope came out afterward to greet the pilgrims that were there.
RS