Mother Teresa to be canonized with four others - dates set

Blessed Mother Teresa

Pope Francis gave his approval for the canonization of five new saints this morning. The announcement was made by Pope Francis after prayers in the Consistory Hall at the Apostolic Palace. The five new saints will be: Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata (née Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu), whose work among the 'poorest of the poor' won her worldwide acclaim.

Hundreds of Mother Teresa's sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, are expected to be in Rome for her canonization, set for 4 September 2016.

The other new saints will be:

Blessed Stanisłaus of Jesus and Mary (né Jan Papczynski) from Poland, who was a member of the Piarist Order. After leaving the Piarists, Bd Stanisłaus founded the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

Blessed Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad of Sweden, a convert from Lutheranism, who founded a new branch of Bridgettine sisters, dedicated to working and praying for the unity of Scandinavian Christians with the Church. She will be the first Swedish saint in more than 600 years.

These two northern Europeans will be canonized together on Sunday, 5 June, this year.

The Holy Father also announced the canonization of Blessed José Gabriel del Rosario, from Argentina, known as the "gaucho priest." Like the famous Argentinian cattlemen, he travelled on a mule throughout the vast territory of his parish in order to be close to the members of his flock.

He will be canonized on 16 October 2016, along with Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Río of Mexico. Blessed José was just 14-years-old when he was martyred by the Mexican government during the Cristeros War, after refusing to deny his Faith.

Source: Vatican Radio