Pope Benedict decides to revert to tradition and not preside at beatifications at Catholic News Agency
On 4 May, it was announced that the Holy Father would not preside over the beatification ceremonies. The task would revert back to the cardinals, whose province it had been up until 40 or so years ago. The upcoming beatification of American Mother Marianne Cope on 15 May will be presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The stated aim of this move is to make the Church less Pope-centric. Personally, I don't think that's the case. The Papacy is by its very nature the center of the Church. I rather see this as simply a move to return to the traditional ways of the Church, another reminder of Benedict XVI's appreciation of history.
3 comments:
Will the Holy Father be going down to S. Peter's later in the day to venerate the relics of the beatus, as was done traditionally?
He will perhaps throttle back the "saint factory" that JP II plunged into high gear.But a slow move is less likely to offend those demanding JP II-cheapened sainthood for JP II himself,rather than being overt about making the process more rigorous again.
p doings:
Yes. I should have mentioned that.
louis e.:
I agree. John Paul II, perhaps due to his early history as a priest in Poland, seemed quite keen on conferring Sainthood on martyrs.
Benedict XVI will perhaps be less motivated by such concerns.
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