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Pope 'moves closer to sainthood'
The late Pope John Paul II could move a step closer to sainthood, as Catholic Church officials complete the first phase of an inquiry into his holiness.
The report, to be given to the Vatican on the second anniversary of his death, cites a possible miracle attributable to the Pope's intercession.
A French nun says she was cured of Parkinson's Disease after companions appealed to the late pontiff's spirit.
If deemed genuine, a second miracle would still be needed before sainthood.
Information for the dossier was gathered on the former Pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became Pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views.
A commission of historians then gathered the documents together to be examined by panels of theologians, cardinals and bishops.
Pope Benedict XVI will now be called upon to give his approval to John Paul II's beatification.
The testimony of the French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre, whose Parkinson's disease disappeared two months after the Pope's death, could be central to the case for sainthood.
Proof of miracle
The Catholic Church demands proof of a medically unexplained healing before a candidate can be beatified - the last step before sainthood. The miracle must take place after the candidate's death.
Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for them to be known as "Blessed". For actual sainthood, proof of at least two miracles is required.
In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part.
However, Pope Benedict put John Paul on a fast track for possible sainthood just weeks after his death on 2 April 2005, allowing an investigation into his virtues to begin immediately.
John Paul II dispensed with this rule himself when in 2003 he beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The entire process was completed just six years after her death.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...pe/6516491.stm
The late Pope John Paul II could move a step closer to sainthood, as Catholic Church officials complete the first phase of an inquiry into his holiness.
The report, to be given to the Vatican on the second anniversary of his death, cites a possible miracle attributable to the Pope's intercession.
A French nun says she was cured of Parkinson's Disease after companions appealed to the late pontiff's spirit.
If deemed genuine, a second miracle would still be needed before sainthood.
BEATIFICATION PROCESS
Beatification requires that a miracle has occurred
Group approaches local bishop
After Rome's approval an investigation is launched
Findings are sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Case is presented to the Pope
Blessed may be accorded a feast day
Relics of the candidate may be venerated
Canonisation (actual sainthood) requires proof of a second miracle
Beatification requires that a miracle has occurred
Group approaches local bishop
After Rome's approval an investigation is launched
Findings are sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Case is presented to the Pope
Blessed may be accorded a feast day
Relics of the candidate may be venerated
Canonisation (actual sainthood) requires proof of a second miracle
Information for the dossier was gathered on the former Pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became Pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views.
A commission of historians then gathered the documents together to be examined by panels of theologians, cardinals and bishops.
Pope Benedict XVI will now be called upon to give his approval to John Paul II's beatification.
The testimony of the French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre, whose Parkinson's disease disappeared two months after the Pope's death, could be central to the case for sainthood.
Proof of miracle
The Catholic Church demands proof of a medically unexplained healing before a candidate can be beatified - the last step before sainthood. The miracle must take place after the candidate's death.
Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for them to be known as "Blessed". For actual sainthood, proof of at least two miracles is required.
In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part.
However, Pope Benedict put John Paul on a fast track for possible sainthood just weeks after his death on 2 April 2005, allowing an investigation into his virtues to begin immediately.
John Paul II dispensed with this rule himself when in 2003 he beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The entire process was completed just six years after her death.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...pe/6516491.stm
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