Pope canonises Opus Dei founder

Vatican City

The canonisation of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer came only 27 years after his death, a remarkably short time by Vatican standards. It can take centuries for the Church to confer sainthood.

Escriva, accused of being a supporter of the right-wing Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, died in 1975.

Escriva's Opus Dei, which recruited many members from Spain's wealthy and powerful families, flourished under Franco and eventually provided ministers to his governments.

Opus Dei's 84,000 members around the world deny he actively supported Franco - though Escriva went into hiding to avoid anti-clerical factions in Republican Spain when the civil war broke out in 1936.

A crowd of about 200,000 spilled over St Peter's Square, many of them from Spain and Latin America where Opus Dei has a strong following. Some had spent the night in the vast space outside the Pope's apartment window.

"Dearest brothers and sisters," John Paul told the crowd, "in this solemn Eucharist, the Church registers in the roll of Saints Blessed Josemaria Escriva, priest, founder of Opus Dei".

"For his intercession, we ask almighty God to transform all moments and circumstances of life into occasions to serve with joy and simplicity the Church and all its souls."

Escriva believed holiness can be attained through one's daily responsibilities in roles ranging from parenting to labouring.

However some see his group, founded in Madrid in 1928, as secretive and elitist. Many of Opus Dei's members come from top professional ranks, including law, medicine and publishing.

The many suits and ties and other conservative dress worn by the crowd yesterday reflected the upscale membership of much of the organisation. Further, some Catholics have said Escriva lacked the virtues of a saint. They accused him of being ill-tempered at times and arrogant about his mission. One critic of Opus Dei is Kenneth Woodward, author of the book "Making Saints -- How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why".

Recently he wrote that Opus Dei's "wealth and influence have silenced most opponents ... even admirers know little about the inner workings of this shadowy Church within the Church".

But much criticism diminished as it became clear Escriva's sainthood was a cause close to the pope's heart.

Among the pilgrims yesterday was Manuel Nevado Rey whose recovery from a debilitating skin disease was judged by the Vatican to be a miracle achieved through Escriva's intercession.

Most of the group's 80,000 members are lay members, in keeping with Escriva's philosophy.