What does "as many ... do" refer to?

[Guest]

Dear Teachers,

What I read was "(to beatify Father Damian) would encourage all those who work among the leprosy patients, as many in the Missionaries of Charity do."

I don't understand what the latter half of the sentence refers to. Does it mean :
1. Many people in the Missionaries of Charity also encourage people who work among the leprosy patients.
2. Many people in the Missionaries of Charity also work among the leprosy patients.
Or 3. To beatify Father Damian would also encourage many people who are in the Missionaries of Charity?

[Conchita]

Your sentence number two is on the right track, but is not all of the explanation.