Polish hierarchy expect Benedict XVI
to announce this month the completion of
John Paul II's beatification process
Dec. 8, 2010
WARSAW - An ampoule containing traces of John Paul II’s blood could become the most precious relic installed in a church built to coincide with beatification and sainthood of the Polish Pope.
This month, Pope Benedict XIV could announce the closing date for the beatification process of his predecessor, John Paul II. The projected day is April 3, 2011, and Krakow’s Curia has significant plans to mark the occasion.
Archbishop of Krakow Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served as the Polish pontiff’s private secretary for over two decades, has revealed his hopes that a church will be built to coincide with the developments.
A site on the grounds of the Krakow’s former Solvay Factory, where the late Pope performed manual labour during the war, has been ear-marked for the construction of the house of worship. The church will be built at 'heightened speed', and it will include a chapel in the late Pope’s honour.
Archbishop Dziwisz has also revealed that the Polish Church is in possession of a unique relic of the Pontiff. The ampoule containing traces of the blood of John Paul II is intended to be installed in the aforementioned chapel. As such, it will stand as the most precious relic of the late Pope.
Both Benedict XIV and Archbishop Dziwisz have expressed that they are against the ancient custom of dividing the remains of the deceased Pontiff for the creation of further relics.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/12/2010 20:15]