Pope approves 12 decrees for causes of saints

(December 10, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday approved 12 decrees for the causes of beatification and canonization of 16 men and women from 5 countries - including a miracle for the sainthood of an Italian archbishop. The decrees concern 5 miracles, 3 martyrdoms, and 4 heroic virtues. Of the 11 men and 5 women candidates, 8 are from Spain, 4 from Italy and one each from Portugal, Brazil, Germany and Lebanon. Among the decrees is a miracle attributed to the intercession of Italian archbishop, Blessed Guido Conforti, Bishop of Parma, founder of the Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions, or the famous Xaverian Missionaries, who died in 1931. the miracle clears him for canonization. The only Asian among the 16 men and women is Lebanese Servant of God, Melkite rite priest Fr. Bechara of the Baslian Order of the Most Holy Saviour, who died in 1853.