Pope Francis canonizes 6 saints, reflects on Christ’s kingdom

November 24, 2014

Pope Francis canonized six saints during a Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Square on November 23.

Two of the saints were members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See. The six are:

• Blessed Giovanni Antonio Farina (1803-1888), an Italian bishop who founded the Institute of the Sisters Teachers of Saint Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts
• Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871), a Syro-Malabar priest in India who founded the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate;
• Blessed Ludovico of Casoria (1814-1885), an Italian Franciscan priest who founded the Gray Sisters of St. Elizabeth;
• Blessed Nicola Saggio (Nicola da Longobardi, 1650-1709), an Italian oblate of the Order of Minims;
• Blessed Euphrasia Eluvathingal (1877-1952), an Indian Carmelite of the Syro-Malabar Church; and
• Blessed Amato Ronconi (1238-1304), a Third Order Franciscan who founded a hospital for poor pilgrims

During his homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Pope Francis reflected on “how Jesus brought about his kingdom,” “how Jesus has advanced his kingdom,” and “what Jesus’ kingdom requires of us.”

Jesus brought about his kingdom “through his closeness and tenderness towards us,” the Pope said. “Those of us who are called to be pastors in the Church cannot stray from this example, if we do not want to become hirelings.”

Speaking about the advance of the kingdom, the Pope said that “the Father, little by little, subjects all to the Son and, at the same time, the Son subjects all to the Father, including even himself in the end. Jesus is not a King according to earthly ways: for him, to reign is not to command, but to obey the Father, to give himself over to the Father, so that his plan of love and salvation may be brought to fulfillment.”

Turning to the final judgment (Mt. 25:31-46), Pope Francis said that “the one who accomplishes these works [of mercy] shows that he has welcomed Christ’s sovereignty, because he has opened his heart to God’s charity. In the twilight of life we will be judged on our love for, closeness to and tenderness towards our brothers and sisters. Upon this will depend our entry into, or exclusion from, the kingdom of God.”

“Through his victory, Jesus has opened to us his kingdom,” he added. “But it is for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now – his kingdom begins now – by being close in concrete ways to our brothers and sisters who ask for bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity, catechesis. If we truly love them, we will be willing to share with them what is most precious to us, Jesus himself and his Gospel.”

During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis prayed that the example of the new Italian saints would “help the dear Italian people to revive the spirit of collaboration and harmony for the common good and to look with hope towards the future.” He also prayed that through the intercession of the new Indian saints, “may the Lord grant a new missionary impulse to the Church in India, which is very great.”

 

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Further information:

• Cappella Papale per la Canonizzazione di 6 Beati (Holy See Press Office, scroll down for English)
• Pope Francis: Let us fix our gaze on Christ the King (Vatican Radio)
• Angelus: On the Newly Canonized Saints (Zenit)