While Australians have focused on the canonisation of the nation's first saint, Mary MacKillop, the Pope will in fact canonise five other people on October 17. Here's a glimpse of who these people are, and why they are important.
Stanislaw Soltys
Stanislaw Soltys Kazimierczyk was a Polish priest who lived in the Fifteenth Century.
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He was born in Lubelskie in eastern Poland in 1433.
Stanislaw entered religious life at the age of 23, in the Canons Regular of Corpus Christi Church. He quickly gained a reputation as a preacher, confessor, theologian and philosopher.
His reputation earned him the title of "Blessed Stanislaw", and by the first year after his death, 176 "blessings" were attributed to him. One of these blessings was announced by the King of Poland, who said Stanislaw had helped him defeat the invading Tatars.
Stanislaw was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1993.
Camilla Battista da Varano
Camilla Battista da Varano was born a Princess in Camerino in central Italy on April 9, 1458.
Despite her wealthy noble family background, at the age of 23 she decided to join a poor order of nuns in the Italian city of Urbino.
Her father, a Prince who was initially opposed to his daughter's religious vocation, eventually restored a monastery in Camerino so Camilla could be close to her family.
In 1502, her family was persecuted and her father and brothers were killed. She fled to a small town in southern Italy.
Camilla writes in her biography that she had a number of mystical experiences during her life which led to her resolute love of Christ.
She died on May 31, 1524, during the plague.
Andre Bessette
Alfred Bessette, later known as Andre, was born in Quebec in 1845. He was so weak when he was born that his parents baptised him soon afterwards, fearing he would not survive.
Physical ailments persisted throughout his life, and as a result he moved quickly through jobs.
At the age of 25, he presented himself as a candidate at the novitiate of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal. Here, he was given the name Brother Andre. At the time he was desperate, jobless and could not read or write.
Andre was deeply devoted to St Joseph, and urged the sick and troubled who visited him to pray to the saint for assistance. Pretty soon, people reported that their prayers had been answered, and Brother Andre became known as "The Miracle Man of Montreal". He would often work for 6-8 hours a day receiving visitors.
He died at the age of 92, in 1937, shortly after commissioning the building of St Joseph's Oratory in Montreal. It is estimated that one million people visited his coffin when he died.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982.
Candida Maria de Jesus
Candida Maria de Jesus was born as Juana Josefa Cipitria y Barriola in Guipuzcoa in northern Spain on May 31, 1845.
In 1871, Candida founded a new congregation, called Hijas de Jesus (Daughters of Jesus) for educating children in the Christian faith, and for the advancement of young women in the city of Salamanca.
She took on the name Candida Maria de Jesus after founding the congregation.
She opened several more schools during her lifetime. Some of these schools were purely for educating children. Others served as Sunday school for young women who were domestic workers during the week.
Candida was renowned for her unwavering trust in the Virgin Mary, and for her modest way of living.
She died on August 9, 1912.
Giulia Salzano
Giulia Salzano was born on October 13, 1846 in Caserta in southern Italy. At the age of four, her father died and she was sent to the Royal Orphanage of St Nicola La Strada.
She was raised by the Sisters of Charity until the age of 15.
Giulia earned her teaching diploma and taught at a school in Casoria, Naples.
She became increasingly interested in teaching catechism to children and young adults, and encouraged devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Later in life, Donna Giulietta, as she was affectionately known, founded the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
She died in Naples in 1929, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in April 2003.
Due to her charism, she is considered the Prophetess of the New Evangelisation.
