One million watch as Pope names saints

A MASSIVE crowd gathered around Pope John Paul II in the shape of a cross yesterday, as he proclaimed five new saints and urged Spaniards to emulate them.

A congregation estimated at one million people spread out along four boulevards intersecting at Plaza de Colon, where a huge altar was erected for the canonisation Mass.

The ceremony honoured two priests and three nuns, 20th century Spaniards noted for their work with the poor. Giant pictures of the five hung from an office building overlooking the plaza.

“We inscribe them in the book of the saints, and establish that in all the church they be devoutly honoured among the saints,” the Pope said in Spanish.

Later, in his homily, John Paul said: “Beloved Catholics of Spain, let yourselves be inspired by these marvellous examples.”

The canonisation was the centrepiece of the ailing John Paul’s weekend visit, his fifth to Spain and first outside Italy in nine months.

The archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco, has said this is probably the Pope’s last trip to Spain. John Paul turns 83 this month and is showing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He has to move on a trolley, as knee and hip ailments make walking difficult.

The Pope drew more applause as he closed the nearly three-hour Mass by saying: “With open arms, I carry you all in my heart.”

One of the canonised priests, Pedro Poveda, was killed in 1936 during the opening days of the Spanish Civil War.

The Church says 4,184 clergy were killed during the war by the government, or republican, side, which accused the Church of backing the fascist General Franco.

The other four new saints are Angela de la Cruz, who founded the Sisters of the Company of the Cross; Genoveva Torres, who founded the Sisters of the Sacred Heart and of the Holy Angels; Maravillas de Jesus, who founded convents for the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, and Jose Maria Rubio, a Jesuit priest.

Yesterday’s service raised to 469 the number of saints John Paul has proclaimed in his nearly 25-year papacy, more than any other pontiff.

Attendees carried banners or pictures of their favourite saints.

Magdalena Abedaro, a 55-year-old midwife from Cadiz in the southern Andalusia region, said her favourite saint was Angela de la Cruz, because she came from nearby Seville and had performed many miracles.

Spanish church officials hoped the visit will reinvigorate a flock that has seen many ignore Catholic teaching in recent decades.

Only about a quarter of Spain’s Catholics go to church once a month, polls show, while about half say they almost never attend Mass.