Nicaraguan bishop praises Brazilian saint, hopes for St. Oscar Romero

Published: 2007-05-14

GUARATINGUETA, Brazil (CNS) -- On the morning after Pope Benedict XVI canonized the first Brazilian-born saint, pilgrims streamed to the house where St. Antonio Galvao was born. The simple, airy house, painted blue and white, was home to the Franciscan priest known as Frei Galvao from his birth until he entered the seminary in 1760. Among the visitors was Bishop Rene Sandigo Jiron of Juigalpa, Nicaragua, who said Frei Galvao's canonization at an outdoor Mass in Sao Paulo May 11 was "of great importance for (the Brazilian) church." After many years of being the country with the largest number of Catholics, Brazil "now has a model of the sort that is important for society, especially youth, to see," Bishop Sandigo said. "St. Frei Galvao has a youthful appearance and is seen as a man of God, a man of peace, a man of charity. That kind of testimony to values is urgently needed today." The possible canonization of former El Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated while celebrating Mass in 1980, would provide the church with another such model, the bishop said.

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