Pope proclaims Uruguay’s first saint in St. Peter’s Square

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Pope Francis canonized Uruguay’s first saint, Italian-Uruguayan nun Francisca Rubatto, Sunday before thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.

The Argentine pontiff, dressed in a plain white robe and seated because of knee pain, pronounced the formula declaring Rubatto (1844-1904), who dedicated part of her life to helping the poor in several South American countries, a saint.

During the ceremony, held for the first time in three years due to the coronavirus pandemic, nine other saints were proclaimed, including French mystic Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916), Dutch journalist Titus Brandsma, who was executed in the Nazi death camp Dachau in 1942, and Lazarus, an 18th century Hindu martyr.

“These saints promoted social and spiritual growth at a time when tensions, wars and distances are sadly increasing in the world. May the new saints inspire dialogue and, above all, the hearts and minds of those responsible, who are called to be protagonists of peace and not of war,” the pope urged at the end of the ceremony.

During the Latin Mass with hymns and litanies, the traditional Latin verse was recited asking that the 10 candidates be inscribed in the so-called Book of Saints so they can be venerated by the Church.

This is one of the largest canonizations in history, with the participation of delegations from several European countries, Africa and Latin America, as well as relatives and religious.

GREAT EMOTIONS

The portraits of the ten new saints hung on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica and were admired by some 50,000 pilgrims, according to the Vatican.

Among the official delegations present on the large esplanade in the guest area was Italian President Sergio Mattarella and French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Dutch Chancellor Wopke Hoekstra, as well as 50 cardinals and about 300 priests and bishops.

Uruguay considered the most secular country in Latin America, had a delegation composed mainly of religious, including Bishop Carlos Collazzi, former president of the Uruguayan bishops’ conference.

Pope Francis, 85, arrived by car a few meters from the altar, foregoing a wheelchair, as had been the case in recent days due to his difficulty walking.

In spring-like weather, groups of pilgrims, many of them from Italy, France, Holland, and Latin America, filled the square early in the morning. Some of the faithful wore scarves and caps with the names and faces of the new “saints.”

“I am very moved to be here in Rome, with the Pope and to attend the proclamation of the first Uruguayan saint who helped children and the needy and, above all, Uruguay,” Colombian Nancy Gómez told AFP as she entered the square.

The canonization of Mother Rubatto, as she was formerly known, will be celebrated in Uruguay with a Mass at the shrine, and another service will be held May 29 at the Montevideo Cathedral.

Beatified by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 10, 1993, she was recognized by the Church in 2020 as the advocate of a second miracle that enabled her to attain the honor of the altars, according to Vatican norms.