(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has declared a new saint and advanced seven other causes for sainthood, the latter including a North American religious sister and two laymen. A statement, issued Friday by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said the Pope has recognized the sainthood of Medieval mystic Blessed Angela da Foligno and “enrolled her” on the Church’s official “catalogue of saints”.A laywoman and member of the Secular Franciscan Order, Blessed Angela was born in a well-to-do family in Foligno, Italy, circa 1248; she died on 4 January 1309. A wife, mother and widow, she lived a deep spiritual conversion in 1285. Attracted by the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi, she joined the Secular Franciscan Order six years later. Her visions were recorded by her spiritual director.
The statement says the Pope “extended the liturgical cult in honour of Angela da Foligno to the Universal Church”, after having received a report from the prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Angelo Amato, sdb, on 9 October.
The Pope also authorized a decree, attributing a miracle to the intercession of Venerable Maria Assunta Caterina Marchetti (1871-1948), Italian co-foundress of a community of religious sisters, the Congregazione delle Suore Missionarie di San Carlo.
The decree also recognizes the heroic virtues of:
- Bishop Pio Alberto Del Corona (1837-1912), Italian founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit
- Attilio Luciano Giordani (1913-1972), Italian layman, father, and Salesian Cooperator
- Sr. Maria Eleonora Giorgi (1882-1945), Italian religious sister of the Sisters Servants of Our Lady of Sorrows
- Amato Ronconi (c. 1226-1292), Italian layman, Secular Franciscan and founder of a hospice for the poor in Rimini, Italy
- Sr. Marie Elisabeth Turgeon (1840-1881), Canadian foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
- Sr. Maria Jane Wilson (1840-1916), Indian foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Victories.
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