Pope canonises first Australian saint

17/10/10 13:30 CET

world news

| |

Australia has its first ever saint.

Sister Mary MacKillop is one of five people who have been canonised by the Pope at the Vatican.

MacKillop, who died in 1909, was once excommunicated by the church over claims of insubordination.

She was accused of being an alcoholic and was reprimanded when she raised suspicions about a priest thought to be abusing children.

Pope Benedict said: “Mary Mackillop dedicated herself as a young woman to the education of the poor in the difficult and demanding terrain of rural Australia.”

Thousands of Australians, including nuns from MacKillops order, travelled to Rome for the ceremony.

More about: Australia, Religion, Vatican

| |

UN condemns Syrian government for Houla shelling

Protests have erupted across Syria after Friday’s massacre of at least 100 people, many of them children, in the town of Houla. With international…

IMF chief back-tracks over Greek tax-dodging

Greek and French politicians are making political capital out of remarks made by the IMF chief…

Greek anger at Lagarde tax avoidance comments

Haneke wins top prize as Cannes

This year’s jury president at Cannes, actor director Nanni Moretti announced the winner of…

Dossier : Cannes Film Festival 2012

Bosnian couple accused of enslavement

Police in north east Bosnia have detained a couple on suspicion of beating and starving a German teenager for years. The 19-year-old girl had allegedly been used as a slave since 2004. …

Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had…