WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Pope Francis delivered a canonization mass for Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine to a crowd of about 25,000. During the mass, the pontiff declared the controversial 18th-century Franciscan a saint.
It was his first mass in the United States.
As Pope Francis arrived at the Basilica, the crowd greeted him with applause and cheers.
Pope Francis then entered the great upper church. There is the mosaic of Jesus Christ, over the main altar. One of the largest in the world, with 4,000 shades of color.
Inside the church he gave the sign of the cross.
Pope Francis delivered the homily in Spanish, starting it by saying "Rejoice in the Lord Always! I say it again, rejoice!"
His homily touched on his core message, go out to where the people are.
"Go out and in my name embrace life as it is, and not as you think it should be. Go out to the highways and byways, go out to tell the good news fearlessly, without prejudice, without superiority, without condescension, to all those who have lost the joy of living."
The pope also quoted Father Serra and said, "Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by: siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!"
Pope Francis urged everyone to go out and help people. He also blessed the Eucharist.
The pontiff ended his homily by saying, "Forward! Let's keep moving forward!"
After his mass, he received a standing ovation.
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A mosaic of Junipero Serra was over Pope Francis' left shoulder during the two-hour mass.
Father Junipero Serra founded several missions in California. They were designed to bring the Catholic Christian faith to the native people. They were free to enter the Missions, but if they tried to flee, they were flogged.
Hundreds of thousands died of European diseases, starvation and at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors.
Critics say Serra does not deserve Sainthood because of the harsh treatment of the native people.
Getting a ticket to the mass was not easy. Parishes across the region held lotteries, so you had to be lucky to get a ticket. Though for the faithful who got one, it's an experience most will remember for the rest of their lives.
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