813 Martyrs Canonized Today

Martyrs of Otranto

From the Associated Press:

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Sunday gave the Catholic church new saints, including hundreds of 15th-century martyrs who were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam, as he led his first canonization ceremony Sunday in a packed St. Peter's Square. 

The "Martyrs of Otranto" were 813 Italians who were slain in the southern Italian city in 1480 for defying demands by Turkish invaders who overran the citadel to renounce Christianity. 

Their approval for sainthood was decided upon by Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, in a decree read at the ceremony in February where the former pontiff announced his retirement. 

Shortly after his election in March, Francis called for more dialogue with Islam, and it was unclear how the granting of sainthood to the martyrs would be received. Islam is a sensitive subject for the church, and Benedict stumbled significantly in his relations with Muslims.

This is a magnificent day for the Church. Over 800 Saints! Let's ask these holy martyrs to pray for the Church in these difficult times.

Just an aside: "Islam is a sensitive subject for the church." Yeah, I wonder why. The audacity of this reporting... Let's review: the story is about how Muslims beheaded over 800 Catholics in their attempt to conquer all of Europe with the sword, and it is Benedict XVI who has a P.R. problem! Incredible. These media people are so predictable.