Pope John Paul II will be
beatified next May 1st, Divine Mercy Sunday.
Benedict XVI Friday approved
the promulgation of a decree concerning a miracle attributed to the
intercession of the Polish Pope.
The choice of the date of the ceremony, which will be
celebrated by Benedict XVI, is particularly close to John Paul II, who
dedicated the Second Sunday of Easter to Divine Mercy, and died April 2,
2005, the eve of the feast.
A briefing note issued today by the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints traces the cause of beatification, which began with a papal
dispensation, "before the expiration of five years from the death of the
Servant of God, required by law. This measure was requested by the
imposing reputation for sanctity enjoyed by Pope John Paul II in life,
death and after death".
This was evidenced by the banners that read
“Saint right now!” that appeared the day of the funeral of
John Paul II. "For the rest - continues the statement of the
congregation - full canonical provisions regarding the common causes of
beatification and canonization were observed."
"From June 2005 to April 2007 the main Roman Diocesan
Investigation and the Rogatorial investigations in different dioceses,
regarding the life, virtues, reputation of holiness and miracles, were
thus celebrated.
The legal validity of the canonical process was
recognized by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints with the Decree
of 4 May 2007.
In June 2009, having examined the relative Positio,
nine theological advisors of the Congregation gave their positive
opinion on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God.
In November,
following the usual procedure, the same Positio was then
submitted to the judgement of the Cardinals and Bishops of the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints, who expressed their approval”.
"On 19 December 2009, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI
authorized the promulgation of the decree of heroic virtue. In view of
the beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, the postulation of
the cause submitted for examination to the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints, the recovery from "Parkinson’s Disease" of Sister Marie Simon
Pierre Normand, a religious of the Institut des Petites Soeurs des Catholiques Maternités” .
"As usual, the copious Acts of the canonical investigation,
along with detailed medical forensic evidence, were submitted to the
Scientific Medical Council of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
on October 21, 2010. Its experts, after studying with their usual
thoroughness the evidence and the entire procedural documentation,
expressed themselves in favor of the inability of science to explain the
healing. The theological consulters, after reviewing the medical
conclusions, on December 14, 2010 proceeded to the theological
evaluation of the case and unanimously recognized its uniqueness, its
antecedent and the choral invocation addressed to the Servant of God
John Paul II , whose intercession was effective for miraculous healing. "
"Finally, on 11 January 2011, the Ordinary Session of the
Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints was
held, which issued a unanimous ruling in the affirmative, considering
the miraculous healing of Sister Marie Simon Pierre, as made by God and
scientifically inexplicable, as a result of the intercession of Pope
John Paul II, confidently invoked by healed religious, as well as by
many other faithful.
SIC: AN/INT'L