The “Martyrs of Otranto” were beheaded in the southern Italian town after refusing to convert to Islam.
Their names are unknown, apart from one man, Antonio Primaldo.
Within two months of taking office, Pope Francis has proclaimed more saints than any of his predecessors.
Among those canonized on Sunday were two Latin American nuns – Laura Montoya from Colombia and Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala from Mexico – who both died in the 20th Century.
Colombia’s first saint, Mother Laura Montoya dedicated her life to helping indigenous people while the woman named by Pope Francis as Mother “Lupita” sheltered Catholics during a government crackdown against the faith in the 1920s.
The Italian “Martyrs of Otranto” were executed after 20,000 Turkish soldiers invaded their town in south-eastern Italy.
There was no hint of any anti-Islamic sentiment in the homily that Pope Francis delivered before tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter’s Square.
While it was Pope Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict, who gave the go ahead for their canonizations, the new pope is continuing the process of honoring a new generation of modern as well as historic martyrs.
Later this month an Italian priest, Father Giuseppe Puglisi, who was murdered by the Sicilian mafia 20 years ago will be beatified – the last step before being declared a saint.
Otranto 14 August 1480:
Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized just days after his 2020 rape conviction in New York…
Hamas has published a video showing the first proof of life of US and Israeli…
Prosecutors and Donald Trump’s attorneys delivered opening statements and the first witness was called on…
The House of Representatives has finally approved $61 billion in new US military aid for…
The real estate market in the United States has always been a gauge for economic…
France's first lady Brigitte Macron will be the subject of a biopic series. Production company…