Vatican City, 14 June 2016 – This morning the Holy Father Francis received in private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees:

MARTYRDOM

- Servants of God José Álvarez Benavides y de la Torre, Spanish dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Almería, and 114 companions, killed in hatred of the faith between 1936 and 1938;

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Anton Cyril Stojan, Czech, archbishop of Olomouc, Czech Republic (1851-1923);

- Servant of God Vicente Garrido Pastor, Spanish diocesan priest and founder of the Secular Institute of Workers of the Cross (1896 – 1975);

- Servant of God Pablo María Guzmán Figuero (né José Bardomiano de Jesús), Mexican priest of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit and founder of the Eucharistic Missionaries of the Holy Trinity (1897 – 1967);

- Servant of God Luigi Lo Verde (né Filippo), Italian professed cleric of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (1910 – 1932);

- Servant of God Bernardo of the Annunciation (né Bernardo de Vasconcelos), Portuguese professed cleric of the Order of St. Benedict (1902 -.1932);

- Servant of God María Elisea Oliver Molina, Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Virgin of Mount Carmel (1869 – 1931);

- Servant of God Mary of the Merciful Love of Jesus (née María Jesús Guízar Barragán), Mexican founder of the Guadalupan Handmaids of Christ the Priest (1899 - 1973).