At a Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on September 23, Serra became the first saint canonised on US soil.

The Pope praised Serra's treatment of Native Americans, calling him a "protector of Native Americans".

He "sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it", Francis said.

"Mistreatment and wrongs which today still trouble us," Francis continued, "especially because of the hurt which they cause in the lives of many people."

The Pope portrayed the 18th century Spanish missionary Serra as the "embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth', a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God".

Fifty different tribes in California condemned the sainthood conferred on Serra, said Deborah Miranda, a literature professor at Washington and Lee University in Virginia and a member of the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation of California.

The missions ended up killing about 90 per cent of the California Native Americans present at the time of missionisation, Miranda said.

This created "all kinds of cultural and emotional baggage that we still carry to this day", she said.

A Native American campaign to stop Serra's canonisation never gained a hearing in Rome, Miranda added.

There have been accusations that Serra forced Christianity on the region, was complicit in the decline or elimination of native populations, and enslaved converts to the faith.

Fr Timothy Kesicki, SJ, said many scholars acknowledge Serra's complicated legacy.

"But I don't think Pope Francis wants pristine saints," Fr Kesicki continued, "because then no one will aspire to sainthood."

The canonisation Mass was celebrated in Spanish, but the readings were in various languages, including one in chochenyo, a Native American language.

Sources

• Crux Now
• CNN
• Text of Pope's homily at canonisation Mass
• Image: KTLA

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said that this is in recognition of the US's large Hispanic population and the fact that Serra spoke Spanish.

Spanish is also the Pope's native tongue and Francis is the first pontiff from the New World, where Spanish is the main language, Cardinal Wuerl said.

The Washington Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the adjoining campus of the Catholic University of America.

A Jumbotron translation to English will be at the venue.

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A Spanish Franciscan, Blessed Serra introduced Christianity to much of California as he marched north with Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century.

Many Native Americans, though, say Blessed Serra and other missionaries helped wipe out native populations, enslaved converts and spread disease as they brutally imposed Christianity on them.

There have been protests in California and there is also a move to remove Blessed Serra's statue from the US Capitol.

Tribal councilwoman for the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, Louise Miranda Ramirez, said her tribe has decided to oppose the canonisation.

"We are not speaking up against the religion, we talking about the man himself and his acts and that the Church needs to hold him responsible," she said.

Ramirez said she is a Catholic and in her eyes Blessed Serra is no saint.

Vatican officials defended Blessed Serra's record, saying it shows he worked in defence of Native Americans, often intervening to spare them from the more brutal colonial officials.

Franciscan Fr Vincenzo Criscuolo said it was important to look at Blessed Serra as "a man of his time" who, like many others at the time used corporal punishment as an educational tool.

"It is not to be excluded, but it wasn't 'genocide,' it wasn't a death penalty," he said.

Pope Francis is scheduled to attend a day honouring Blessed Serra at the Pontifical American College in Rome on May 2.

The Pope plans to canonise Blessed Serra on September 23 during a Mass on the lawn of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

This would give the US its first Hispanic saint.

Fr Paul Murphy, pastor at Carmel Mission Basilica in California, said it is important to remember in Blessed Serra's case that canonisation does not mean a person lived a life without fault.

Sources

• Associated Press
• KSBW News
• Catholic News Service
• Image: ESCOFM