Pope Francis canonises French couple

Pope Francis has conducted the first canonisation of a married couple in a ceremony in St Peter’s Square. Louis and Marie-Zelie Guerin Martin, who lived in France in the 19th Century, were the parents of the much venerated Saint Therese of Lisieux. The couple had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. The remaining […]

Pope Francis has conducted the first canonisation of a married couple in a ceremony in St Peter’s Square.
Louis and Marie-Zelie Guerin Martin, who lived in France in the 19th Century, were the parents of the much venerated Saint Therese of Lisieux.
The couple had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. The remaining five, all girls, became nuns.
The youngest, Therese, died of tuberculosis aged 24 in 1897 and was canonised in 1925.
In his homily, Pope Francis said: “The holy spouses Louis Martin and Marie-Zelie Guerin practised Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.”
It was one of the highlights of a meeting of cardinals and bishops at the Vatican.