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Vatican City,
13th May 2005 (CNA)
- Catholics around the world are rejoicing
today with Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that
he would open the cause for the beatification of
his predecessor, John Paul II, who died April
2nd.
Deciding to waive the normal waiting period
of five years after a person’s death, the Holy
Father made the announcement during a meeting with
the Roman clergy in the basilica of St. John
Lateran.
The Church usually does not start the
process of canonization until at least five years
after the person's death. But Pope Benedict told
clergy in Rome today that he is waiving the
traditional five-year waiting period.
Pope Benedict’s decision answers the
requests of many of Catholic faithful, who say
Pope John Paul II demonstrated clear evidence of
his holiness during his 26-year
pontificate.
Hundreds of thousands of them expressed
their desire to see John Paul quickly canonized
during the late pontiff’s April 8 funeral,
spontaneously chanting "Santo subito!"
John Paul was the first to waive the
five-year rule in 1999, when he put Mother Teresa
on the fast track to sainthood only two years
after her death.
Proof of one miracle is needed for
beatification, and two for
canonization.
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