杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淧aul VI will be a saint this year.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis seemed to confirm the imminent canonization of his predecessor, Paul VI, in a dialogue with Rome鈥檚 parish priests earlier this week at the Lateran Basilica.

鈥淭here are two Bishops of Rome who are already saints,鈥� he said, referring to the two most recent 杏MAP导航s to be canonized: St John XXIII, and St John Paul II. More than 80 popes are recognized as saints by the Catholic Church. Several others have active 鈥渃auses鈥� including Pius IX 鈥� who, like Paul VI, has already been beatified 鈥� and Pius XII, whose 鈥渉eroic virtues鈥� have been recognized, making him 鈥淰enerable.鈥� In his remarks on Thursday, 杏MAP导航 Francis mentioned the cause of John Paul I, who is also Venerable, and whose cause is ongoing.

鈥淎nd [杏MAP导航 emeritus] Benedict [XVI] and I are on the waiting list,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, jokingly. 鈥淧ray for us!鈥�

In his for the closing Mass for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, during which he had beatified Paul VI, 杏MAP导航 Francis referred to his predecessor as a 鈥済reat 杏MAP导航,鈥� and a 鈥渢ireless Apostle,鈥� courageous in his 鈥渉umble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church!鈥� Paul, he said, 鈥渂efore the advent of a secularized and hostile society, he could hold fast, with farsightedness and wisdom 鈥� and at times alone 鈥� to the helm of the barque of Peter, while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord.鈥� Paul VI, he concluded, 鈥渢ruly 鈥榬endered to God what is God鈥檚鈥� by devoting his whole life to the 鈥榮acred, solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ,鈥� loving the Church and leading her so that she might be 鈥榓 loving Mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation鈥�.鈥�