Pope Francis has officially agreed culture of dialogue champion – Servant of God Matteo Ricci – “lived the Christian virtues to a heroic degree”. With the pope’s endorsement, the famous 16th-century Italian Jesuit missionary to China is now on the path to sainthood. Last December the Vatican announced that Francis had the prefect of the Read more
Even before his funeral Mass got underway on January 5, there were already calls to declare Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI santo subito, in a repetition of what happened at the death of John Paul II. This could be simply a déjà vu, repeating what happened almost 18 years ago. But looking at the larger historical context Read more
Pope Francis canonised a 19th-century bishop known as “the father of migrants” on Sunday. In so doing, Francis sent a message to Catholic leaders on the importance of caring for refugees. His pontificate has been marked by his concern for migrants. Bishop Giovanni Battista Scalabrini lived at a time of mass migrations in Europe. The Read more
The recent report detailing the Vatican’s response to the scandal surrounding ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick shows why it’s a mistake to canonise popes, or anyone quickly after their deaths. According to the Vatican report released last week, Pope John Paul II received warnings about McCarrick from Vatican officials and New York Cardinal John O’Connor in 1999. Read more
The canonisation of Blessed Charles de Foucauld is bothering some historians. They say his legacy is tied too closely to French colonialism in Algeria where he was murdered in 1916. In May, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints said a miracle had been attributed to the intercession of Blessed Charles, enabling his canonization to Read more
St John Henry Newman, who was canonised on Sunday along with four others, should be considered a Doctor of the Church. He should rank alongside early Christianity’s great thinkers, Cardinal Marc Ouellet says. Ouellet, who is the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and a respected theologian, told the 20,000-strong crowd at the canonistaion that Read more
The Prince of Wales will travel to Rome to attend Cardinal John Henry Newman’s canonisation at the Vatican next month. “As one who has been a lifelong champion of the spiritual in everyday life, to promote understanding between faiths, and who has sought to alleviate poverty and disadvantage through his charitable work, the Prince of Read more
Following the recent announcement that the cause for sainthood for celebrated writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton would not go forward in his home diocese, Dale Ahlquist, an expert on the author, said this stall “points to the difficulty of getting a layperson canonized.” Ahlquist noted one reason given for halting Chesterton’s cause was that the author, Read more
Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the most influential and controversial Christian figures of the 19th century and a leading Anglican before converting to Catholicism, will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Monday. Canonisation will take place at the Vatican on October 13, it said in a statement, after Pope Francis decreed recognition Read more
Pope Francis has agreed to canonise Blessed John Henry Newman, Blessed Maria Teresa Chiramel Mankidiyan and Fr Salvatore Vittorio Emilio Moscoso Cardenas (martyr). He has also declared several people to have lived lives of heroic virtue. Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He was a 19th century theologian, poet, Catholic priest and Read more