Belgian King & Queen Attend Canonization of Priest

Reuters

King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium were at St. Peter’s Basillica Sunday, to witness the canonization of Father Damien, a 19th century Belgian priest who dedicated his life to lepers in Hawaii. The King and Queen were part of the Belgian contingent for the ceremony.

Father Damien was one of five Catholics elevated to sainthood by Pope Benedict XVI. He had grown up in the Flemish speaking areas of Belgium before being sent to Hawaii. There, he began working with its lepers despite being told by the Vatican to leave.

On Saturday, the royal couple met with the Pope at the Vatican. He had given them a ceramic bas-relief of the wedding in Cana back in July. It was a gift to commemorate the King and Queen’s 50th wedding anniversary.