Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic cardinals will meet at the Vatican on 21
February to decide the dates when they will create three new saints.
The canonisations are of three 'blesseds': two Italian priests,
Guido Maria Conforti and Luigi Guanella and Spanish nun Bonifacia
Rodriguez Castro.
Conforti was an Italian archbishop-bishop and founder of the Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (1865-1931).
Guanella was an Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity and of the Institute of the Daughters of Our Lady of Providence (1842-1915).
Rodriguez Castro was the Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of St. Joseph (1837-1905).
The late Pope John Paul II will be beatified or made a 'blessed' at at ceremony at St Peter's Basilica in Rome on 1 May, the Vatican announced in January.
Beatification is the penultimate step on the road to sainthood.
One miracle is needed to become a 'blessed', while a second miracle is needed to achieve sainthood.
Benedict put John Paul on the fast track to possible sainthood just weeks after his death, responding to the chants of "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood immediately!" that erupted during his funeral.
Conforti was an Italian archbishop-bishop and founder of the Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (1865-1931).
Guanella was an Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity and of the Institute of the Daughters of Our Lady of Providence (1842-1915).
Rodriguez Castro was the Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of St. Joseph (1837-1905).
The late Pope John Paul II will be beatified or made a 'blessed' at at ceremony at St Peter's Basilica in Rome on 1 May, the Vatican announced in January.
Beatification is the penultimate step on the road to sainthood.
One miracle is needed to become a 'blessed', while a second miracle is needed to achieve sainthood.
Benedict put John Paul on the fast track to possible sainthood just weeks after his death, responding to the chants of "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood immediately!" that erupted during his funeral.