Although the Vatican is expected to make an official pronouncement sometime today, the Associated Press is reporting that a May 1 date has been set for the long awaited beatification of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI, who was a close friend of the late pontiff throughout most of his pontificate, issued a decree declaring the recovery of a French nun from Parkinson's disease due to his intercession to have been miraculous. This was the last step needed before beatification can take place. An additional miracle will be needed before he can be named a saint.
"This is a huge and important cause of joy," Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz told reporters at his residence in the Polish capital.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul's longtime secretary and friend, expressed "huge thanks" to Benedict for the decree. "We are happy today," he said.
Regardless of the date of the beatification, the event is expected to draw huge crowds to Rome, rivaling that of his funeral which brought five million pilgrims to the Eternal City.
The AFP is reporting that work is already underway in St. Peter's Basilica to move John Paul II's body from the crypt to the Chapel of St. Sebastian, which is located on the right-hand side of the nave between the Chapel of Michelangelo's Pieta and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. It is a long-standing tradition to move beatified popes from the crypt into the nave of the basilica.
Once he is beatified, John Paul will be given the title "blessed" and can be publicly venerated.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
JPII Could be Beatified as Early as May 1
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Pope Benedict XVI has approved the miracle required to beatify Pope John Paul II and, pending confirmation from the Vatican, is expected to preside over a May 1 beatification celebration.
Although the Vatican is expected to make an official pronouncement sometime today, the Associated Press is reporting that a May 1 date has been set for the long awaited beatification of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI, who was a close friend of the late pontiff throughout most of his pontificate, issued a decree declaring the recovery of a French nun from Parkinson's disease due to his intercession to have been miraculous. This was the last step needed before beatification can take place. An additional miracle will be needed before he can be named a saint.
"This is a huge and important cause of joy," Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz told reporters at his residence in the Polish capital.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul's longtime secretary and friend, expressed "huge thanks" to Benedict for the decree. "We are happy today," he said.
Regardless of the date of the beatification, the event is expected to draw huge crowds to Rome, rivaling that of his funeral which brought five million pilgrims to the Eternal City.
The AFP is reporting that work is already underway in St. Peter's Basilica to move John Paul II's body from the crypt to the Chapel of St. Sebastian, which is located on the right-hand side of the nave between the Chapel of Michelangelo's Pieta and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. It is a long-standing tradition to move beatified popes from the crypt into the nave of the basilica.
Once he is beatified, John Paul will be given the title "blessed" and can be publicly venerated.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Although the Vatican is expected to make an official pronouncement sometime today, the Associated Press is reporting that a May 1 date has been set for the long awaited beatification of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI, who was a close friend of the late pontiff throughout most of his pontificate, issued a decree declaring the recovery of a French nun from Parkinson's disease due to his intercession to have been miraculous. This was the last step needed before beatification can take place. An additional miracle will be needed before he can be named a saint.
"This is a huge and important cause of joy," Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz told reporters at his residence in the Polish capital.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul's longtime secretary and friend, expressed "huge thanks" to Benedict for the decree. "We are happy today," he said.
Regardless of the date of the beatification, the event is expected to draw huge crowds to Rome, rivaling that of his funeral which brought five million pilgrims to the Eternal City.
The AFP is reporting that work is already underway in St. Peter's Basilica to move John Paul II's body from the crypt to the Chapel of St. Sebastian, which is located on the right-hand side of the nave between the Chapel of Michelangelo's Pieta and the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. It is a long-standing tradition to move beatified popes from the crypt into the nave of the basilica.
Once he is beatified, John Paul will be given the title "blessed" and can be publicly venerated.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
