Pope Francis declare Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II saints

Pope Francis has declared two of his predecessors Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints.

He praised the two as 'men of courage' at the Vatican service.

The move is the first time in history that two popes have been canonised at the same time.

According to the BBC, in keeping with tradition, Pope Francis was approached and requested to add his two predecessors to the list of Catholic saints.

As the service came to an end, Pope Francis said in Latin: "We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church."

Relics of each man - a container of blood from John Paul and a piece of skin from John - were placed near the altar.

Pope Francis paid tribute to the two new saints as 'priests, bishops and popes of the 20th Century,' the report added.