Mother Mary MacKillop to become Australia's first saint

Melbourne, December 20 (ANI): Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed Mary MacKillop's second miracle paving way for her to become Australia's first saint.

Mother Mary had founded the Sisters of St Joseph in 1866.

"At long last, Australia has a saint," News.com.au quoted Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre chief executive Garry McLean, as saying.

He added: "She was an extraordinary Australian, born here in Melbourne, and she has achieved what no other Australian has done.

"It's fantastic for the country to have its first saint and fantastic for Melbourne because she is a Melbourne girl."

Vatican officials made the announcement after the Pope confirmed that she had cured a woman from inoperable lung cancer who had been given just months to live in 1993.

MacKillop died in 1909 at age 67 and was beatified by the late Pope John Paul II in 1995.

MacKillop concluded: "Australians tend to look up to their heroes and role models and we need these people to be put in front of our young people." (ANI)