Vatican City, Mar 6, 2018 / 10:54 am
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, told CNA Tuesday that "Paul VI's canonization will likely take place in October," although nothing is official yet.
While it has been reported that the late pope's canonization will take place after an October Synod of Bishops meeting, Parolin stressed to CNA late Tuesday afternoon that "we cannot say this with certainty, as the Pope needs to approve the miracle before, and then there must be a consistory to set the date of the canonization."
Greg Burke, director of the Holy See Press Office, said that the canonization is "expected," but that nothing can be said before it is officially scheduled.
Bl. Paul VI was beatified by Pope Francis Oct. 19, 2014.
After a person is beatified, another miracle, which takes place after the beatification, must be recognized to advance the cause of canonization. In Bl. Paul VI's case, the miracle attributed to his intercession is the healing of an unborn child during the fifth month of pregnancy.
The child's mother, originally from the province of Verona in northern Italy, was seriously ill, and her illness could have led to a miscarriage
A few days after Paul VI's beatification, she asked for his intercession while praying at Santa Maria delle Grazie shrine in Brescia, the region from which Paul VI hailed. Her daughter, a girl, was born healthy and remains in good health.
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints reportedly approved Bl. Paul VI's miracle Feb. 6, and it now awaits approval from Pope Francis.