Canonized popes declared 'giants of the 20th century'
In a Canonization Mass attended by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis celebrated as saints Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, calling them two giants of the Catholic Church in the 20th century.
In his homily, Pope Francis remembered Pope John Paul II as the “pope of the family,” and John XXIII as the “the “good pope who was the pope of the Holy Spirit.”
Declaring his intention to convene two church conferences or synods to be dedicated to the family – one this October and the other next year – Pope Francis concluded his homily by calling on the two newly declared saints to intercede with God to restore worldwide the sanctity of the family.
Tying together the themes of Easter Sunday that last week began one of the most holy weeks in the history of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II were sustained through the great tragedies of the 20th century because...