Vatican announces formally that pope won't preside at beatifications

Published: 2005-09-29

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While the Vatican continues studying theological and pastoral issues surrounding the rites of beatification and canonization, Pope Benedict XVI will preside only over the canonization ceremonies, the Vatican said. A formal announcement of the change, which Pope Benedict instituted at the beginning of his pontificate, was published Sept. 29 in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. The communique from the Congregation for Saints' Causes said that while the study of the rites continues Pope Benedict will preside over canonizations, but beatifications, "which are still a pontifical act, will be celebrated by a representative of the Holy Father, who normally will be the prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes," Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins. "The rite of beatification will take place in the diocese which promoted the cause of the new blessed or in another suitable location," including the Vatican, with the approval of the Secretariat of State, it said. Normally, it said, the beatification should take place in the context of the Mass or Eastern Catholics' Divine Liturgy.

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