Pope Francis makes John XXIII, John Paul II saints

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented canonization ceremony made even more historic by the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis recited the saint-making formula in Latin, saying that after deliberating, consulting and praying for divine assistance "we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church."

Benedict was sitting off to the side with other cardinals in St. Peter's Square during the rite at the start of Sunday's Mass. He and Francis briefly greeted one another after Francis arrived.

LIVE coverage and video: Canonization of two popes

Italy's interior minister said as many as 1 million people would be drawn to Rome for the extraordinary occurrence of two being canonized at a Mass on Sunday where two living popes pontiffs (Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) will be present.

For such a momentous occasion, the ceremony was actually quite short and surprisingly straightforward, with the added benefit that the relics of the two new saints will be presented for universal veneration by the church for the first time. The rite was celebrated mostly in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church.

The preliminary part of the ceremony began at around 0700 GMT with prayers, hymns and culminates with the chanting of the hypnotic Litany of Saints, the roll call of the church's saints, each one followed by the refrain "Ora pro nobis," or "Pray for us."

After Pope Francis and concelebrants processed to the altar, the canonization rite began immediately.

The head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Amato, asks the pope three separate times to include John XXIII and John Paul II among the saints. In the rite for beatification, there is only one such petition. The three repeated requests for canonization "signify the importance of this celebration," noted the Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

Pope Francis answered: "For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the increase of the Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church. In the name of the Holy Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Relics of the two new saints were then brought to the altar. In the case of John Paul, the same relic — his blood — used for his 2011 beatification is being used. For John XXIII, a small piece of skin taken after his body was exhumed for his 2000 beatification is being used. Relics — the physical remains of a new saint or things he or she touched in life — are used to help the faithful venerate.

Amato then thanked Francis and asked him to draw up an official document attesting to the canonization. Francis responded "We so decree" and the rite ends with the singing of the "Gloria."

The Mass then proceeded as usual.

The Vatican said Saturday that Francis would preside over the Mass and Benedict would concelebrate along with 150 cardinals and 700 bishops. It's the first time Benedict has joined Francis in celebrating Mass in public since his resignation in 2013. Benedict attended the February ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica in which Francis installed 19 new cardinals, but as a spectator.

About 600 priests would distribute Communion in St. Peter's Square and 210 deacons will distribute Communion to the throngs of people expected to line up along Via della Conciliazione, the main boulevard leading away from the square.

Ninety three official delegations attending, including an estimated 24 heads of state. The kings and queens of Belgium and Spain attended, as did royals from Andorra, Britain and Luxemburg. Poland sent one of the largest delegations with the current president and two former presidents, including Lech Walesa, founder of the Solidarity movement that toppled communism in Poland, which John Paul supported.

About 20 Jewish leaders from the U.S., Israel, Argentina, Poland and Rome were also in attendance.