Sister Alphonsa, a Catholic nun from Kerala, was elevated as Saint by Pope Benedict XVI at a solemn function at the Vatican, making her the first Indian woman to be canonised. Church bells peeled across Kerala and special prayers were held as the proclamation was made at the St Peters Square in the Vatican. While the Roman Catholic church has over 10,000 canonised saints, in India this is the first time that someone from its flock has been elevated to full sainthood.