Over 800 new Saints in one day; Pope Benedict says absolutely

February 9, 2013. (Romereports.com) Benedict XVI will announce on Monday the date for the canonization of over 800 new saints for the Catholic Church, during a consistory with cardinals. Among the soon to be saints are Mother Laura, the first Colombian saint, and Mother Lupita, the second female Mexican saint.

Mother Lupita co-founded the religious congregation of the Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary and of the Poor in Jalisco, Mexico. Mother Laura Montoya founded the Missionaries of St. Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena to help local indigenous people.

The rest of the large group are the 813 martyrs of Otranto (Italy), killed by the Turks in the Fifteenth Century for not renouncing their faith.

The ceremony will likely take place in October. Once it happens, Benedict XVI will have canonized more saints that his predecessor John Paul II, who elevated “only” 482 people to sainthood.