Royal relative on path to sainthood

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has put a 19thcentury English Catholic priest, who was a distant relative of Britain’s Prince William and Harry, on the path to sainthood.

The Vatican said the Pope had approved a decree recognising the ‘‘heroic virtues’’ of George Spencer, a priest of the Passionist religious order, who lived from 1799 to 1864.

Spencer, who left the Anglican Church, took the name ‘‘Ignatius of St Paul’’ after he became a Catholic priest.

The princes are related to Spencer through their mother Diana Spencer, the late Princess of Wales, who died in 1997.

Spencer was the princess’ greatgreatgreatuncle, according to the website of the Roman Catholic diocese of Shrewsbury.