No signs of clogging: Saint-making pipeline's flow never slowed

Published: 2007-10-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, one of his first decisions was to stop presiding over beatification ceremonies. Many people took this as a signal that the pope wanted to slow the flow in the Vatican's saint-making pipeline. In fact, it looks like the opposite is happening. Already in 2007, 10 people have been beatified in 10 different liturgies carried out by cardinals. That number is about to increase exponentially. In late October, 498 Spanish martyrs of the 1930s civil war period will be beatified in a megaceremony in St. Peter's Square. It's the largest beatification in the church's history, and Pope Benedict is expected to appear for a final blessing. Throughout the rest of the year, many others will be elevated to the rank of blessed, including missionaries in Brazil, an Austrian who was decapitated for refusing to join Hitler's army and an Italian theologian whose works were once condemned by the Vatican.

Copyright (c) 2007 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .