Betancur devoted his life to Guatemala's poor

The new Guatemalan saint, Pedro Betancur, was born into a poor family in the Canary Islands in 1619.

As a shepherd, he devoted the time with his flock to prayers. At 31, he crossed the Atlantic to seek a career away from sheep, and settled in Guatemala City.

There Betancur befriended Jesuits and Franciscans, and enrolled in a Jesuit College in the hope of becoming a priest.

However, with little education he was unable to master the material and withdrew. He then took private vows and became a Franciscan brother, taking the name Peter of Saint Joseph.

In the following years Betancur opened Our Lady of Bethlehem, a hospital for the poor in Guatemala City, as well as a shelter for the homeless, schools and chapels.

He also pricked the consciences of the rich, persuading them to fund his work.

He died in Guatemala City in 1667.

Worship

Betancur is already hugely popular in Guatemala.

Many leave 'thank you' notes on Betancur's tomb

He is sometimes credited with starting the Christmas Eve "posadas" procession, in which people representing Mary and Joseph seek a night's lodging from their neighbours.

The custom soon spread to Mexico and other Central American countries.

Legend has it that petitioners need only tap gently on Betancur's tomb in order to have their prayers fulfilled.

Stone tablets scratched with thank-you notes are often left on the tomb afterwards.

The Pope beatified Betancur in 1980 and has risked a further extension to an already exhausting journey to make him a saint.