Pope Francis makes history twice in one day with dual canonization

Pope Francis has made a habit of breaking with tradition during the first year of his papacy, and yesterday he continued his string of unprecedented actions by elevating two former papal predecessors to sainthood in the same ceremony.

He proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims yesterday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century.

Cheers and applause rang out across St Peter’s Square after the historic double papal canonization as many in the crowd fixed their gaze on huge tapestries of the two popes on the facade of the basilica behind Francis.

“We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church,” Francis said in his formal proclamation in Latin.