VATICAN CITY, Holy See— Slain Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero and Pope Paul VI, Catholic giants who sparked controversy during their lifetimes, will join the church's highest rank Sunday with an elevation to sainthood. Pope Francis will wear a blood-stained rope belt which belonged to Romero, who was murdered at the altar, as he leads the ceremony in front of some 60,000 pilgrims and heads of state from across the world. The pontiff will also use a chalice and pastoral staff belonging to Paul VI in a canonisation being seen as a reminder of Francis's call for "a poor church for the poor". It was Benedict who also extolled Paul VI, a man he once described as "almost superhuman". Paul VI -- who encouraged Romero in his struggle -- was the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to attempt to reform the Vatican's powerful and unruly Curia, a challenge Francis also decided to take on.

Source: Philippine Star October 14, 2018 08:15 UTC