Portuguese cardinal is 'objective fan' of soccer, sainthood causes

Published: 2006-02-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Portuguese cardinal who heads the Congregation for Saints' Causes has been given extra duties by Pope Benedict XVI. The pope, having decided not to preside personally over most beatification ceremonies, usually delegates the responsibility to Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the 74-year-old congregation prefect. While no one expects Pope Benedict to match the super record-setting pace of canonizations and beatifications set by Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Saraiva Martins said the amount of work done by his office is not expected to slow any time soon. "I foresee the rhythm continuing as it has been," he told Catholic News Service. "With 2,200 causes open here, it is clear things will continue. "Even if no other causes were submitted, we would have enough causes to study to keep us busy for years and years, but new causes always are arriving," the cardinal said.

Copyright (c) 2006 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .