Pope canonizes three new saints

April 3, 2014: On Thursday, Pope Francis promulgated decrees declaring three saints by accepting a miracle each through their intercession. The Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and extending the liturgical cult of the following blesseds to the universal Church, inscribing them in the book of Saints:

-Francois de Laval, French bishop of Quebec, Canada (1623-1708).
-Jose de Anchieta, Spanish priest of the Society of Jesus (1534-1597).(Pictured)
-Maria de la Encarnacion (nee Marie Guyart), French (1599-1672).

The new Saints were raised to the altars by a process called “equivalent canonization.” In such cases, the Pope waives the usual judicial process and declares that a blessed’s liturgical cult is extended to the universal Church. The same practice was adopted by Pope Francis for the canonization of Angela Foligno (9 October 2013) and Peter Faber (17 December 2013). He also authorised the Congregation to promulgate the decrees concerning other causes of Blesseds and servants of God.