A student of John the apostle, Ignatius was eager to prove his faith through martyrdom. The Roman authorities hoped to discourage the new religion's spread but found that putting him to death in the arena only inspired more converts.

Patron saint of animals and founder of the Franciscans. He adopted a life of poverty and service after an icon of the crucified Christ spoke to him three times: "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins."

A close friend and servant of Henry II, Thomas à Becket was reluctant to become Archbishop of Canterbury, knowing his allegiance would then have to shift to Rome. After years clashing with the King, he was murdered by four over-zealous knights.

Inspired by visions of God, Joan led a relief force that lifted the English siege of Orléans when she was only 17. Two years later, she was captured, tried for heresy and burnt at the stake. A retrial, ordered by the Vatican, overturned her conviction.

A friend of Spain's fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, and founder of Opus Dei. Two of the nine judges on the Congregation for the Causes of Saints opposed Escriva's canonisation, and one said it could cause the church grave public scandal.

A doctor of philosophy, Stein converted from Orthodox Judaism to Catholicism after reading the autobiography of the mystic St Teresa of Avila and became a nun. She was killed by the Nazis in the gas chambers at Auschwitz.

Known as Padre Pio. His fame rests on his penetrating understanding of people and miracles such as the stigmata. The founder of Rome's Catholic University called him "an ignorant and self-mutilating psychopath who exploited people's credulity".

An outspoken critic of human rights violations by the authorities in El Salvador and their allies in the late 1970s. Although his canonisation has been delayed, he is honoured by the Anglican church and his statue is one of 10 20th-century martyrs above the west door to Westminster Abbey.

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