Sainthood congregation recommends Pope Pius XII be named venerable

Published: 2007-05-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Members of the Congregation for Saints' Causes met May 8 to consider the cause of Pope Pius XII and apparently voted to recommend that Pope Benedict XVI formally declare him venerable. Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, confirmed the congregation had met, but since the result of the vote still had to be presented to the pope he would not say May 9 what the result was. However, Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, who has spent years officially shepherding the cause through its various stages, told Catholic News Service May 11 that the vote was "unanimous and totally positive." Father Gumpel said 13 cardinals and archbishops took part in the May 8 discussion and urged the pope to declare that Pope Pius heroically lived the Christian virtues. The German Jesuit said he confirmed the result with four congregation members and "it is absolutely false that some cardinals had asked for a delay."

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