Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Canonization?
Vatican, Apr. 11 (CWNews.com) - The cause for beatification and canonization of Pope John Paul II (bio - news) could move forward very quickly, according to the secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Archbishop Edward Nowak said that the "popular acclaim" for the late Pontiff, which was so evident at his death and particularly at his funeral, was a clear indication of the widespread belief that John Paul II was a model of Christian virtue.
Ordinary procedures require a 5-year waiting period after an individual's death before the cause of beatification can be opened. But many leading Catholics-- in particular, the Focolari lay movement-- have argued that the requirement should be waived in the case of John Paul II. The late Pope himself lifted that requirement to allow the early beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and a new Pope could put the cause of John Paul II on a fast track.
Speaking to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera , Archbishop Nowak cautioned that a move toward beatification was likely to begin "not immediately," but after proper documentation had been collected. He even speculated that the next general meeting of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October of this year, could see an announcement.
The archbishop told Corriere della Sera that during the Pope's funeral, as he heard the cries ring out in St. Peter's Square calling for his quick canonization, "it reminded us of the acclamation of saints that was the practice in the ancient Church." Although there are now formal procedures to be followed, the continued, "the substance is always the same: it is not the Church that canonizes people-- not yesterday, not today-- but the faithful who recognize and attest to a person's sanctity."
The first step toward beatification and canonization, Archbishop Nowak continued, is the testimony of "a reputation for holiness." When that reputation is established, the Church begins the process of collecting documentation to judge the cause. In the case of Pope John Paul, he observed, the documentary record is already enormous. Italian media outlets have begun adding to the record, with reports of miraculous cures attributed to the intercession of the late Pontiff.
Archbishop Edward Nowak said that the "popular acclaim" for the late Pontiff, which was so evident at his death and particularly at his funeral, was a clear indication of the widespread belief that John Paul II was a model of Christian virtue.
Ordinary procedures require a 5-year waiting period after an individual's death before the cause of beatification can be opened. But many leading Catholics-- in particular, the Focolari lay movement-- have argued that the requirement should be waived in the case of John Paul II. The late Pope himself lifted that requirement to allow the early beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and a new Pope could put the cause of John Paul II on a fast track.
Speaking to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera , Archbishop Nowak cautioned that a move toward beatification was likely to begin "not immediately," but after proper documentation had been collected. He even speculated that the next general meeting of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled for October of this year, could see an announcement.
The archbishop told Corriere della Sera that during the Pope's funeral, as he heard the cries ring out in St. Peter's Square calling for his quick canonization, "it reminded us of the acclamation of saints that was the practice in the ancient Church." Although there are now formal procedures to be followed, the continued, "the substance is always the same: it is not the Church that canonizes people-- not yesterday, not today-- but the faithful who recognize and attest to a person's sanctity."
The first step toward beatification and canonization, Archbishop Nowak continued, is the testimony of "a reputation for holiness." When that reputation is established, the Church begins the process of collecting documentation to judge the cause. In the case of Pope John Paul, he observed, the documentary record is already enormous. Italian media outlets have begun adding to the record, with reports of miraculous cures attributed to the intercession of the late Pontiff.
