Hundreds of thousands of worshippers flocked to central Madrid today for a spectacular open air mass where Pope John Paul II canonised five new Spanish saints.
Entire families had set up camp in the Spanish capital's Colon square, spending last night in the open air to await the two-hour canonisation mass, the highlight of the 82-year-old pontiff's two-day visit.
To cries of "Long live the pope" and "John Paul II, everybody loves you" and flanked by several hundred priests, the pontiff took place at a giant altar, behind which a vast canvas depicting the five new Spanish saints was stretched.
Wearing white robes and speaking in Spanish, the pope read out the names of the new saints, which include the priest Pedro Poveda Castroverde, who was executed after being captured by Republicans early in the 1936-1939 civil war.
Castroverde was shot aged 61 after a summary trial on July 28th, 1936. He died after declaring: "I am a servant of Christ", according to biographical notes issued by the Vatican.
The other four new Spanish saints are a Jesuit, Jose Maria Rubio Peralta, and three nuns - Genoveva Torres Morales, Angela de la Cruz and Maria Maravillas de Jesus, all of whom died during the last century.
Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia along with conservative Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar were present for the historic ceremony, in the square dedicated to the explorer Christopher Columbus, the man who discovered America in 1492.
Central Madrid was cordoned off for the occasion, with 5,000 police officers and 10,000 volunteers mobilised to ensure security.
Later today, the pope is due to end his fifth official visit to Spain with an audience with the royal family, before heading back to the Vatican in the evening.
AFP