Although Pope Francis usually takes the month of July off — except for leading the recitation of the Angelus on Sundays — he held a consistory with cardinals in Rome July 1 for the final approval of the canonization of several sainthood candidates.
In late May, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints said Pope Francis would be convoking the meeting of cardinals to vote on approving the canonizations of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teen and computer whiz; Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries; eight Franciscan friars and three Maronite laymen who were martyred in Syria in 1860; Canada-born Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family; and Blessed Elena Guerra, an Italian nun who founded the Oblates of the Holy Spirit.
During the consistory at the Vatican, the pope announced the date for the canonizations will be Oct. 20 for everyone except Blessed Carlo Acutis, whose canonization date is yet to be determined.
