Devasahayam Pillai Becomes First Indian Layman To Be Announced A Saint By Pope Francis

Devasahayam Pillai, who converted to Christianity in the 18th century was canonised today — after a miracle attributed to him was recognised by Pope Francis in 2014.

Cardinals, bishops and other clergy members attend a canonisation mass at St. Peter's Square in The Vatican on May 15, 2022. ( Image Source :AFP )

New Delhi: Devasahayam Pillai was granted sainthood by Pope Francis in a canonisation ceremony that took place in Vatican City on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. He has become the first Indian layman to be conferred with sainthood at the Vatican city. 

He was recommended for the process of Beatification by the Vatican in 2004, at the request of the Kottar diocese, Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.

Pillai, who converted to Christianity in the 18th century was canonised today — after a miracle attributed to him was recognised by Pope Francis in 2014 — at 2:30 pm (IST) at the St Peter's Basilica in Vatican along with nine others. 

Pillai was born as Neelakanda Pillai in Nattalam in the Kanyakumari district in 1712. He was introduced to Christianity by Dutch naval officer Captain De Lannoy when he was in Travancore. After his conversion, he assumed the name of 'Lazarus' or 'Devasahayam', meaning 'God is my Help'. A court official, Pillai’s conversion to Christianity in 1745 drew irk by Maharaja of Travancore — a province of which Kanyakumari was a part back then — who shot dead the former at Aralvaimozhi forest on January 14, 1752.

The saint was declared blessed in 2012 in Nagercoil and the Vatican cleared him for sainthood in 2020.

Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) laity secretary, V.C. Sebastian told IANS that the "conferment of sainthood to Devasahayam Pillai will rejuvenate the Christian community in the country, in particular the Catholic laity. The elevation of a layman as a saint or canonisation of a common man has immense relevance to the present times".