By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 12:55 EST, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 13:15 EST, 12 May 2013 Pope Francis today proclaimed hundreds of 15th-century martyrs beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam as saints of the Catholic Church, as he led his first canonization ceremony in a packed St. Peter's Square. The 'Martyrs of Otranto' were 813 Italians who were slain in the southern Italian city in 1480 for defying demands to renounce Christianity by Turkish invaders who overran the citadel. Their approval for sainthood was decided upon by Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, in a decree read at the ceremony in February where the former pontiff announced his retirement.
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Pope Francis made the sainthoods in his first canonization ceremony today
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The canonisations were approved by his predecessor Benedict XVI
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Vatican seemed at pains not to allow it to be interpreted as anti-Islamic
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The first pontiff from South America also gave Colombia its first saint
It is estimated around 60,000 Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Square during Pope Francis' canonization mass at the @placeholder
Francis prayed that '@placeholder's beloved children continue to work for peace and just development of the country'.