Australian pilgrims flock to Rome

Hundreds of Australian pilgrims are continuing to stream into Rome ahead of Mary MacKillop's canonisation on Sunday.

Many have travelled to Rome bringing with them stories of how they believe the future saint has changed their lives, as SBS correspondent Auskar Surbakti reports from Rome.

Among this group are indigenous pilgrims, who have come to celebrate Mary MacKillop's sainthood.

"It's such a fantastic example, a witness, a powerful witness for us in Australia to have someone, one of our own people really be recognised as a saint," Ryan Galliott said.

But for people like 21-year-old Amy Green from Brisbane, Mary MacKillop has been more than just an inspiration.

"When I was two, I developed epilepsy so I would have roughly eight seizures a day, and Sister Genevieve who's a sister of St Joseph gave my mum a Mary MacKillop relic, which is this one here.

"Sister Genevieve prayed with my mum and said to pin it on to me or my pillow and just have hope and pray that I come out of the worst of it, which I did," she said.

Amy defied expectations and now leads a normal life. Her seizures have recently disappeared.

Australian pilgrims have been arriving in Rome in their thousands, ahead of the canonisation in Rome.

Around 8,000 Australians are expected to converge on the Australian city, to witness the historic event, which will take place at St Peter's Square in a few days time.

Stories like Amy's can be heard all over Rome, as the faithful pay homage to a woman who has changed their lives forever.