Five 20th-Century Saints: From Auschwitz to Calcutta

The article profiles five Roman Catholic saints who lived in the 20th century: Maximilian Kolbe, Oscar Romero, Maria Francesca Cabrini, Josemaria Escriva, and Mother Teresa. Maximilian Kolbe (born January 8, 1894) was a Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of Franciszek Gajowniczek at Auschwitz in July 1941, was killed by lethal injection after two weeks without food or water, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982. Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador (born August 15, 1917), was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass at Hospital de la Divina Providencia; he was canonized by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018. Maria Francesca Cabrini (born July 15, 1850) founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, established 67 schools and orphanages in Italy and the US, died in Chicago on December 22, 1917, and was canonized in 1946 as the first American saint. Josemaria Escriva (born January 9, 1902) founded Opus Dei in 1928, which now operates in 60 countries with 90,000 members; he was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002 despite controversies over elitism and financial crimes. Mother Teresa (born August 26, 1910) founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, which now runs homes in 133 countries with 4,500 nuns; she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, died September 5, 1997, and was canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016.