Graphologist called as witness for late pope's sainthood cause

Published: 2007-03-27

ROME (CNS) -- In connection with the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul II, a graphologist and a psychiatrist were called as expert witnesses in the investigation into the presumed healing of a nun suffering from Parkinson's disease. Msgr. Slawomir Oder, the postulator of Pope John Paul's cause, said the French diocese where the nun lives concluded its investigation March 23 and would hand all its documentation to the Congregation for Saints' Causes in early April. Msgr. Oder spoke to reporters March 27 about the status of the cause and plans for the formal conclusion of the Rome diocesan phase of the process April 2, the second anniversary of Pope John Paul's death. The postulator said the French nun, whose identity has not been revealed, would participate in the April 2 prayer service and attend the memorial Mass Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate in St. Peter's Basilica in the evening. He said the French investigation into the nun's healing was conducted "with maximum seriousness ... and a bit of the French critical attitude, which is quite useful for this kind of procedure."

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