Pope Benedict the 16th named seven new saints Sunday morning in an elaborate ceremony in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Two of them are Americans, Kateri Tekakwitha a 17th century Native American known as “Lily of the Mohawks”, and Mother Marianne Cope, a 19th century Franciscan nun who cared for lepers in Hawaii.

The other new saints include a French missionary to Madagascar, a Philippine seminarian martyred at the age of 17, a Spanish nun who campaigned for women's rights, a German lay woman credited with spreading Christianity despite being bedridden, and an Italian priest, who devoted his life to helping young people during the industrial revolution.

Canonization requires that the Vatican certify that at least two miracles be credited to the candidate, one for beatification and a second for sainthood.