(ANSA) - Vatican City, December 17 - Pope Francis on Tuesday canonized 16th-century French Jesuit priest Pierre Favre as a saint. Francis looks on Favre as a true role model, Vatican sources said. Prior to Favre, the pontiff has canonized six individuals - three women and two men - as well as 813 inhabitants of the southern city of Otranto who were executed after refusing to convert to Islam in 1480. His predecessor Benedict XVI canonized 45 people between 2005 and 2012.
Pope Francis canonizes new saint
16th-century French Jesuit priest Pierre Favre 'a role model'
