By Carol Glatz • Catholic News Service • Posted February 27, 2017

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of two medical doctors and six religious — many of whom died just a generation ago.

The pope approved the decrees during an audience Feb. 27 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.

The pope recognized the martyrdom of Salesian Father Titus Zeman, who secretly shuttled Salesians to Italy out of communist-controlled Czechoslovakia when religious orders were banned in the 1950s and members were sent to concentration camps. He eventually was arrested and jailed. Although he was released from prison in 1964, he suffered ill health because of his imprisonment and died in 1969.

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The pope recognized the heroic virtues of five other men and two women including:

— Bishop Octavio Ortiz Arrieta, a Salesian, born in Peru in 1878. Known for his closeness to clergy and lay people of his diocese, he declined an appointment as archbishop of Lima, preferring to stay with people of his diocese. He died in 1958.

— Mexican Jesuit Father Antonio Repiso Martinez de Orbe, founder of the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd. He died in 1929.

— Maria de la Mercedes Cabezas Terrero, born in Spain in 1911. She founded the Missionary Workers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She died in 1993.

— Pedro Herrero Rubio, a Spanish layman and pediatrician who dedicated his life to the medical and spiritual needs of his young patients and their parents. He died in Spain in 1978.

— Vittorio Trancanelli was a married layman and surgeon, who was known as “the saint of the operating room.” Born in Italy in 1944, he wanted to go on mission as a doctor but the birth of his first child with special needs meant he stayed in his home city. He soon saw the need to evangelize the hospital he worked at, that put the patient first. He and his wife adopted many children and formed an association of families who adopted disadvantaged kids. He died in 1998.

— Father Antonio Provolo, born in 1801, who was a pioneer in bringing education to the deaf in Italy. He founded the Society of Mary for the education of the deaf and mute and died in 1842.

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Contributing to this story was Junno Arocho Esteves in Rome.