Pope Francis created a new group of saints on Sunday, canonizing 14 individuals including the "martyrs of Damascus," killed in Syria during the Ottoman Empire and symbols of Christian persecution.
Francis presided over the canonization ceremony in Saint Peter's Square in the presence of thousands of Catholic faithful from around the world.
"We enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church," proclaimed Francis, after reciting each name.
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