ROME, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Pope John Paul II gave the Catholic Church three new saints Sunday during a two-hour ceremony on the steps of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The three were all 19th century missionaries from Italy, Germany and Austria who worked in Africa and China, the BBC reported.
Daniele Comboni, the Italian; Arnold Janssen, of Germany and Josef Freinademetz, an Austrian, brought to 476 the number of saints named by John Paul during his papacy.
African dancers from Sudan dressed in animal skins, sang and danced before the open-air altar, the BBC said.
Sunday's canonization ceremony was part of a month of events marking the Pontiff's 25th year as head of the Roman Catholic Church, the BBC said.
The pope's stamina during the marathon service dispelled rumors of his imminent demise. Although he remains frail due to the effects of Parkinson's disease, witnesses said John Paul appeared much stronger than he had in recent weeks.
