Pope Benedict XVI is unlikely to accelerate the process of declaring Mother Teresa
a saint by waving the mandatory second miracle that can be attributed
to her, according to the former head of the Missionaries of Charity.
"No, the Holy Father will not waive it," former MC superior-general Sr Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa to the post, told PTI when asked whether Pope Benedict is likely to do away with the requirement of a second miracle for a person to be 'canonised' (declared a saint).
As per the rules of the Roman Catholic church, candidates for sainthood need to have at least one posthumous miracle of a medical nature attributed to them for beatification (declaration as 'Blessed').
One more miracle needs to be attributed to the candidate after the beatification process for the person's canonisation.
After her death on September 5, 1997, Pope John Paul-II initiated a fast track sainthood process for Teresa and beatified her on October 19, 2003, over a North Bengal tribal woman Monica Besra's claim that she had been cured of a tumour at the nun's intercession.
While Besra's claim was contested by rationalists and some doctors, a section of the Catholic clergy questioned the unusual speed of the beatification process, saying Besra's claim should have been examined more carefully.
"No, the Holy Father will not waive it," former MC superior-general Sr Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa to the post, told PTI when asked whether Pope Benedict is likely to do away with the requirement of a second miracle for a person to be 'canonised' (declared a saint).
As per the rules of the Roman Catholic church, candidates for sainthood need to have at least one posthumous miracle of a medical nature attributed to them for beatification (declaration as 'Blessed').
One more miracle needs to be attributed to the candidate after the beatification process for the person's canonisation.
After her death on September 5, 1997, Pope John Paul-II initiated a fast track sainthood process for Teresa and beatified her on October 19, 2003, over a North Bengal tribal woman Monica Besra's claim that she had been cured of a tumour at the nun's intercession.
While Besra's claim was contested by rationalists and some doctors, a section of the Catholic clergy questioned the unusual speed of the beatification process, saying Besra's claim should have been examined more carefully.