Pope Francis is set to canonize two nuns who lived in 19th-century, Ottoman-era Palestine next week in what Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarchate has hailed the as the first recognition of modern-day Palestinian saints. . . .

In a pastoral letter published last month, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Tawal, said that the church was in “full preparation” for the ceremony, and called the upcoming canonization a “blessing from heaven on our land, devastated by violence yet persevering in our longing for peace and justice.”

Bishop William Shomali told journalists that the pair’s canonization “means that holiness is still possible, that… spiritual perfection is still possible,” in a press conference in Jerusalem last week.

“Our Holy Land continues to be holy, not only because of the holy places it hosts, but also because good people live here,” he said.

Read the article “Pope Francis to Canonize First Palestinian Saints” on timesofisrael.com.