Pope Benedict XVI signed decrees advancing significantly much awaited beatification and canonization processes of three Poles - the late Pope John Paul II, Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko - legendary Solidarity freedom movement chaplain and martyr of the communist regime, as well as blessed Stanislaw Kazimierczyk.
Click on the audio icon to listen to a report by Joanna Najfeld
Beatification and canonization processes are lengthy Church investigations aimed at establishing whether a given deceased person, considered to have lived a saintly life or died for the Faith, is in fact in Heaven, enjoying eternal rewards, and can be presented to other believers as a role model and intercessor. Church institutions do not make anybody a saint, they only declare whether this person has earned sainthood. The procedures can take between several and even several hundred years.
John Paul II's and Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko's beatifications are among the most awaited ones not only in Poland. In the case of the late Pope John Paul II, the decree "on his heroic virtues", signed on Saturday by Pope Benedict XVI basically means that the only thing left for him to be canonized is the final confirmation of a miracle which happened thanks to his intercession. The case of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko, legendary "Solidarity" chaplain, abducted and tortured to death by communist functionaries in 1984, is a case of martyrdom for the Faith. No miracle is required to confirm it.
It is expected that Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko's beatification ceremony may be held some time late Spring, while Pope John Paul II's may fall on his Pontificate anniversary on 16th of October.