Pope Francis canonizes 16th century Jesuit priest as a saint

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Pope Francis has canonized Pierre Faber, a 16th-century French Jesuit priest, as a saint, Vatican officials said Wednesday.

Pope Francis signed the decree canonizing Faber, who was a founding member of the Society of Jesus, Vatican Radio reported.

He also brought many Germans back to the Catholic faith following the Lutheran reformation.

Prior to Tuesday, Pope Francis canonized six other individuals and 813 residents of the city of Otranto, Italy, who were executed in 1480 after refusing to covert to Islam.

Benedict XVI canonized 45 people between 2005 and 2012.