Swedish nun Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad canonised for saving Jews

A nun who saved Jewish families during World War Two has been made the first Swedish saint in more than 600 years.

Pope Francis canonised Roman Catholic convert Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad at a ceremony in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Ms Hesselblad hid Jewish families in the convent in Rome where she was the mother superior.

Pope Francis meets Swedish Minister of Culture Alice Bah Kuhnke (left) before he leads the mass for the canonisation of Swedish nun Sister Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad in the Vatican (05 June 2016)

Swedish Minister of Culture Alice Bah Kuhnke attended Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad’s canonisation in the Vatican

The Pope also canonised Polish monk Stanislaus Papczynski for supporting the poor in the 17th Century.

He founded the first men’s religious order dedicated to the Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception.

A nun holds a Swedish flag as she attends as Pope Francis arrives to lead the mass for the canonization of Swedish nun Sister Maria Elisabeth Hesselblad - 5 June 2016

How does someone become a saint?

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