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TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2002

Pope John Paul II is in Guatemala today to canonize the country's first saint, an advocate for Mayan Indians.

Pedro de San Jose Betancur was 17th-century Franciscan missionary. He worked to improve the health care and literacy of Mayans.

The Pope will leave for Mexico tonight to canonize the first Indian saint. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was an Aztec man who experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1531.

The church in Mexico has limited Indian deacons in Chiapas, a move which has been questioned. Mayan Catholic leaders are planning a protest next month of the policy and other grievances, The London Independent reports.

While in Mexico, The Pope will beatify two Zapotec Indian men who were killed for telling church authorities about an outlawed Indian ceremony. Beatification is a step prior to full sainthood.

Get the Story:
Maya tribes snubbed as Pope names world's first Indian saint (The London Independent 7/30)
Pope to Beatify Two Mexican Martyrs (AP 7/30)
Faithful embrace Mexico's new saint (The Denver Post 7/30)
Pope Stresses Peace In Face of Threats to Guatemalan Church (The Washington Post 7/30)
Latin America's Indigenous Saint Stirs Anger, Pride (The Los Angeles Times 7/30)
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Pope to Visit a Mexico Warmer Toward the Church (The New York Times 7/30)
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Related Stories:
Pope heads to Mexico to canonize saint (7/29)
Indian saint looks non-Indian now (7/26)
Mexican Indian to become a saint (7/22)
Vatican moves to limit Indian deacons (3/12)
First Indian saint questioned (3/11)
Anti-Indian cited in saint debate (2/5)
Mexican Indian recognized as saint (12/21)
Kateri conference gets underway (8/4)
Kateri conference begins (8/2)