Pope Francis has declared as saints 16 Carmelite martyrs executed by guillotine during the French Revolution and confirmed the martyrdom and heroic virtues of five others in a series of decrees published 18 December.
Using what the Vatican called an “equipollent” or equivalent canonisation, Pope Francis approved adding to the canon of saints Blessed Teresa of St Augustine and 15 other members of the Carmelites of Compiègne killed during the French Reign of Terror.
The French revolutionary government outlawed religious life in 1790 and the community of Carmelites in Compiègne was forced to leave their convent two years later.
In 1794, after being discovered to have continued living in community as consecrated women, they were tried and publicly executed by guillotine.
The decree, supported by the cardinals and bishops who are members of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, was approved by Pope Francis and extends devotion to the Carmelite martyrs to the universal church.
The other decrees approved by Pope Francis 18 December included recognition of the martyrdom of Archbishop Eduard Profitlich, who died in a Russian prison in 1942.
The pope also recognised the martyrdom of Salesian Father Elia Comini, who was born near Bologna, Italy, 7 May, 1910, and was killed out of hatred of the faith 1 October, 1944, during World War II.