Pope Francis canonized the first ever Colombian to become a saint; the late Laura Montoya or Laura of Saint Catherine of Siena.
The religious ceremony in Vatican City was witnessed by hundreds of worshipers and religious tourists in the Colombian town of Jerico, where the saint was from.
President Juan Manuel Santos was present at the ceremony in the Vatican.
Celebramos proclamación del papa Francisco de la Madre Laura como santa. Santa Laura nos deja oportuno legado de reconciliación y justicia.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) May 12, 2013
Montoya (1874-1949) was a nun who dedicated some 30 years of her life helping indigenous peoples in her native Antioquia department.
The nun’s decision to dedicate her life to the well-being and conversion to Christianity of Colombia’s indigenous was not appreciated then as it is now; many thought she was insane during her lifetime.
However, after she had died and two people claimed the intervention of the late nun had been the cause of miraculous cures, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and eventually canonized.
Sources
- Laura Montoya Upegui (1874-1949) (Vatican)
- Así fue la canonización de la madre Laura (El Espectador)