Obama, who was born in Hawaii, noted that millions worldwide suffer from disease, especially HIV/AIDS, and urged people to follow Damien's example by "answering the urgent call to heal and care for the sick."
Among the pilgrims in St. Peter's Basilica was a Hawaii resident who recovered from lung cancer after praying to Father Damien -- a healing the Vatican describes as miraculous.
The pope says the five new saints, which include two Spaniards, a Frenchwoman and a Polish bishop, gave themselves totally without "calculation or personal gain."
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