Pope John Paul II may have been the greatest pope in the history of the Papacy, and he may have walked on water every day and twice on Sundays. But you don’t waive the rules just because it’s the popular thing to do.
“The cause for the beatification of John Paul II is open,” the new Roman Catholic leader told priests meeting at Rome’s Basilica of St John in Lateran. The Pope waived the usual rules which require a five-year wait before the Church begins to make someone a saint. John Paul II died on 2 April, leading to widespread calls from Catholics worldwide for him to be made a saint.
“And now I have a very joyous piece of news for you,” Pope Benedict XVI said in Italian before making the announcement in Latin. The Pope read out a letter from Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the official in charge of sainthood, in which it said that Benedict XVI himself had authorised the start of the beatification process.
Of course, it’s actually JPII’s fault, since he waived the rules to beatify Mother Teresa.
If the Church truly is the timeless and eternal institution that it tries to be, riding popular crests like this only tarnishes that image. JPII will still be “Great” and “Holy” and producing miracles in five years — if he truly is now. If not, then rushing matters sounds like pandering to the public at best, playing politics at worst.
You’d think that, of all institutions, the Catholic Church would respect the value of process and rules.
(via J-Walk)