Indian nun Mariam Thresia and four others were declared Saints by Pope Francis at a grand ceremony at the Vatican City today.

Mariam Thresia, who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family in Thrissur in May 1914, was raised to the highest position within the centuries-old institution during the ceremony at the St Peter’s Square.

The nun from Kerala was canonised along with English Cardinal John Henry Newman, Swiss laywoman Marguerite Bays, Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes and Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini.

Huge portraits of the five new Saints were hung from Saint Peter’s Basilica during the ceremony, which was attended by tens of thousands of devotees. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan led the Indian delegation at the ceremony.

In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ on All India Radio programme on 29th of September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to Sister Mariam Thresia and said it is a matter of pride for every Indian that, on 13th of October, Pope Francis will declare her a saint. Sister Thresia, in her short lifespan of 50 years, worked for the good of humanity becoming a noble example for the entire world.

Mr Modi had said that whatever task Sister Mariam Thresia undertook and accomplished, she did so with utmost dedication and devotion. Prime Minister had also said, she rendered service in the fields of education and social service and has built many schools, hostels and orphanages.