Pope to canonise Mallorca-born friar

POPE Francis will canonise Mallorca-born friar Junipero Serra Ferrer this year.

The announcement was made by the Holy Father during a press conference he gave while on a flight to Manila after a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

“God willing I will canonise friar Junipero in September in the United States,” he told the media. 

Pope Francis will travel to Philadelphia to participate in the Eighth World Meeting of Families, which will be held between September 22 and 27.

Founder of several churches throughout California, Junipero Serra was born in Petra in 1713, died in Monterey (US) in 1784 and was beatified 204 years later.

He will be canonised even though only one miracle has been officially attributed to him. The decision was made by the Pope taking into account the strong devotion people feel for the friar.