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JP II to be made saint in November or April?

PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle 30.07.2013 09:54
Pope Francis has said that two dates are possible for the canonization of the Polish Pope, John Paul II: 24 November or 27 April next year.
Wikicommons/W.Kryński

photo
photo - wikicommons

Speaking to journalists on the papal flight from Brazil, where the pontiff attended World Youth Days, Pope Francis spoke openly about the difficulty of finding a date to canonize John Paul II, who died in April 2005.

Pope Francis told journalists that 8 December – on the feast of the Immaculate Conception - was possible, but he worried that the winter weather would make it difficult for poorer Polish pilgrims to travel to Rome, the Catholic News Service reports.

The Feast of Christ the King on 24 November was also possible, but would not give enough time to make the necessary preparations.

Pope Francis said the best date could be Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27, the first Sunday after Easter in 2014.

Earlier in July, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican ruled an "inexplicable recovery" on 1 May 2011 was due to the late Pope's intercession. The Polish Pope had been beatified the same day. Two miracles are needed to become a saint.

Father Jacek Siekierski, rector at St. Anne's church in Warsaw told Polish Radio that the April date would be appropriate, given John Paul II's involvement of the Cult of the Divine Mercy, which is related to the visions of Faustyna Kowalska from the the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

Pope Francis spoke on a wide range of issues to journalists on the papal plane, including homosexuality - “who am I to judge gays?” he said – but ruled out allowing women to become priests.

Pope Francis said, "the Church has spoken and said, 'no,'” on the issue, mentioning that John Paul II had once said that because Jesus chose only men as his disciples, the Church was not able to ordain women. (pg)

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