He died in 1914 after living for years with leprosy that he was said to have contracted from one of his faithful. Francis cleared him for sainthood earlier this year and on Sunday canonized Brochero along with six others in one of the final big Masses of his Holy Year of Mercy. At the time of Brochero’s beatification, Pope Francis wrote a letter to Argentina’s bishops praising Brochero for having had the “smell of his sheep.” That’s a phrase Pope Francis has frequently used to describe his ideal pastor- one who accompanies his flock, walking with them through life’s ups and downs.
Pope Francis declares seven new saints. {Vatican Radio)