I would never have imagined that the following news item about Blessed John Paul ii, from February 15, would have been virtually ignored by almost everyone, Catholic media and MSM alike, in the continuing furor over Benedict XVi;s renunciation. If it made headlines anywhere (other than Poland, I suppose) and I was not aware of it, then I must be even more dysfunctional (first and immediately debilitating general symptom of Benedict-deprivation syndrome) than I think I am.
Cause for Wojtyla sainthood:
A second 'miracle' has been presented
to the Congregation for Saints
by ANDREA TORNIELLI
February 15, 2013
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has received the dossier on a case of miraculous healing attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Paul II. The documentation is now in the hands of the medical commission/
The Postulator of the cause, Mgr. Slawomir Oder, said he presented this inexplicable case of healing to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints headed by Cardinal Angelo Amato, a month ago. The dossier is now in the hands of the medical commission.
Although it was unannounced at the time, Cardinal Amato himself and the Archbishop of Cracow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz - who had been Papa Wojtyla’s personal secretary and a big promoter of his canonization – had already discussed this three weeks ago.
The Polish pope’s “inner circle” are hoping that John Paul II will receive the title of Saint by 2013.
The reported miracle must now be examined by the Congregation’s medical commission, headed by Dr. Patrizio Polisca, Benedict XVI’s personal doctor
[though not in that capacity, but as head of the Vatican's health and medical services.].
Under current Church statutes, In order for a beatification to take place, the Catholic Church needs to guarantee and recognise a miracle attributed to the intercession of the candidate for sainthood, a miracle that occurs after the death of the candidate.
A second miracle must then be confirmed in order to move from beatification to the final step in the canonization process.
Canonization is a formal proclamation by the Pope that carries the stamp of papal infallibility and renders devotion to a saint universal, not just confined to the candidate saint's home or work diocese and country, as is the case with Blesseds.
The medical commission that will examine the reported healing is composed of various medical specialists called in to determine whether there is any scientific explanation for the healing. If they find none, they certify its scientific inexplicability, and the case passes on to a theological commission which has the final say on proclaiming the scientifically unexplainable healing as a miracle. The cardinals of the Congregation must then formally approve the medical and theological conclusions before passing on their recommendation for canonization to the Pope.
Blessed Wojtyla was beatified in May 2011 after the miraculous healing of a French nun, Sister Simon Pierre, who had Parkinson’s disease, the same syndrome that eventually took the Polish Pope's life.
The procedure for the recognition of her case as one of miraculous healing was not at all easy because it is difficult to give a precise diagnosis of certain neurological illnesses. Not all the doctors consulted gave their approval even though the Congregation’s final assessment was positive.
Could Benedict XVI’s shock resignation slow down Pope Wojtyla’s canonization process? In theory not, because the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will continue its work normally until 28 February [
after which all non-routine Curial work ceases until a new Pope is elected.] But the Conclave and the necessary 'initiation' period for the new Pope could justify any delay in the consideration of the case, which may not be resolved as early as the late Pope's entourage are expecting.
The only obvious observation I can make is that Benedict XVI will not be canonizing his great friend and predecessor, after all.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 20/02/2013 17:35]