Pope signs sainthood decrees in private

Published: 2005-12-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Once again returning to a streamlined practice in place before the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI chose a private audience for the signing of a variety of decrees related to sainthood causes. Pope Benedict met Dec. 19 with Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, and authorized the publication of decrees related to 19 causes. Pope John Paul also authorized publication of decrees during meetings with the prefect, but the meetings were anything but private. The postulators of the individual causes were invited, as were local bishops or heads of the candidates' religious orders and even members of the candidates' families. An official of the Congregation for Saints' Causes told Catholic News Service Dec. 20 that, as he has shown on previous occasions, Pope Benedict "wanted to return to the essentials," keeping the ceremony simple.

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