Pope makes saint of woman who died for unborn child

Pope John Paul created six new saints yesterday, including an Italian woman who has become a symbol of the anti-abortion movement for saving her unborn child at the cost of her own life.

Gianna Beretta Molla died in 1962 at the age of 39, one week after giving birth to a healthy baby. Early in her pregnancy, Molla discovered she had a tumour in her womb but decided against treatment because it would have involved an abortion.

She was the first married woman to become a saint in modern times, Vatican officials said.

"The extreme sacrifice that took away her life is evidence that only those who have the courage to give themselves totally to God and his brethren can fulfil themselves," the pope told a crowd of more than 50,000 people packed into St Peter's Square.

Molla's husband, now 91, and her four children, including her last born, Gianna Emanuela, were also in the sun-filled square for the ceremony. Gianna Emanuela is now a doctor specialising in geriatric medicine.

Shortly before the birth, Molla told her doctors the baby's life was more important than her own. "If a decision must be made between my life and the child's, don't hesitate. I insist you choose the child's. Save it," she was quoted as saying.

While pro-life groups have drawn inspiration from Molla's decision, critics have complained that yesterday's canonisation suggests the Church values the life of an unborn child above the well-being and safety of women. Among the other new saints were Luigi Orione, an Italian priest who died in 1940 and has a huge following for his work with the underprivileged, and a 19th century Lebanese priest, Nimatullah al-Hardini, who was renowned for his tolerance.

"In his mission he made no distinction between Muslims, Druses or Christians," Father Paolo Azzi, the man who promoted his sainthood, told Vatican Radio.

Yesterday's ceremony raised to 483 the number of saints created by Pope John Paul during his 25-year papacy. He has also beatified more than 1,330 people, putting them in the waiting room for eventual elevation to the sainthood.

The pope, who turns 84 tomorrow and looked in good health yesterday, has made saints of people from every class and culture to underline that anyone can lead a holy life.

Molla was beatified 10 years ago during the Church's international year of the family and her subsequent elevation to sainthood sends a clear message to the Catholic faithful that the Vatican remains adamantly opposed to abortion.

"Gianna Beretta Molla was a simple but nonetheless significant messenger of divine love," the pope said.

Last month a senior Cardinal said pro-abortion politicians should be denied communion at Mass.

Cardinal Francis Arinze's comment came amid debate over whether US presidential candidate John Kerry should be denied communion because he supports abortion rights.

The miracle attributed to Molla, enabling her to become a saint, also involved a difficult child birth: A Brazilian woman lost all her amniotic fluid in the third month of the pregnancy, but she prayed to Molla and the child was born healthy and well.