Pope praises newly beatified women for lives of service

Published: 2005-05-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians must remember that love of the Lord is seen in love for the poor and suffering, just as the life of Blessed Mother Marianne Cope of Molokai illustrates, Pope Benedict XVI said. Although the pope opted not to preside personally over the first beatifications of his pontificate, he met the pilgrims from Hawaii, New York, Spain and Peru who had traveled to the Vatican for a May 14 ceremony. Franciscan and Hawaiian representatives each gave the pope a "maile" lei made of fragrant green leaves woven with kukui nuts. When an aide offered to remove the leis, the pope shooed him away. Pope Benedict had asked Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, to preside over the beatification of Blessed Mother Marianne and of Blessed Florentina Nicol Goni, a Spanish nun who founded the Dominican Missionaries of the Rosary and ministered in Peru.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .