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Pope Canonizes Father Damien

Belgian missionary, four others elevated to sainthood

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2009 2:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – Father Damien, the Belgian missionary who ministered to leprosy victims on the Hawaiian island of Molokai before contracting and dying of the disease, was canonized today. The 19th-century priest, the founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and three others were elevated to sainthood in a ceremony that drew tens of thousands to St. Peter's Basilica and the surrounding area, the Catholic News Service reports.

Father Damien spoke for "rejected people of all kinds: the incurably ill (victims of AIDS or other diseases), abandoned children, disoriented youths, exploited women, neglected elderly people and oppressed minorities," the ceremony's official program read.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Easter Mass at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, April 12, 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Easter Mass at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, April 12, 2009.   (Getty Images)
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Father Alfred Bell, who advocated for Father Damien's canonization, discusses the 19th-century Belgian missionary and his cause.   (romereports)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
JoeQ
Oct 12, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
No wait, they shot his ashes out a cannon. Cannon with two N's. Never mind.
George_Taylor
Oct 12, 2009 10:13 AM CDT
And he didn't care to much for it.
George_Taylor
Oct 12, 2009 10:11 AM CDT
The Pope WAS a Nazi. WAS.

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