Report: Pope Francis Says John Paul II to Be Canonized April 27

NC Register ^ | September 3, 2013 | EDWARD PENTIN

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has yet to make the date official, but Pope Francis has already let it be known in a private conversation that Blessed Pope John Paul II will be canonized on April 27, 2014.

A reliably informed source close to the Vatican asked Pope Francis about the date recently, to which the Pope replied with a laugh: “I can tell you now if you like. It will be April 27.”

“I was surprised by his frankness, but he took a step back, laughed and then told me the date,” the source said. “He was surrounded by top officials who didn’t seem to mind.”

Among those within earshot was Archbishop Georg Gänswein, prefect of the pontifical household, who will be partly responsible for organizing the canonization ceremony.

Blessed Pope John XXIII, who led the Church from 1958 to 1963 and convened the Second Vatican Council, is also expected to be canonized on the same date.

During a papal press conference on his return from Rio de Janeiro July 28, Pope Francis said both popes will be canonized “together,” but said it was unlikely the canonizations would take place during the autumn or winter, as many Poles will be traveling to Rome by bus, and the roads are already icy in Poland and parts of Europe in December. “I think the date needs to be rethought,” he said.

After speaking with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul II’s former private secretary and current archbishop of Krakow, he said two other possibilities arose: Christ the King Sunday, which falls this year on Nov. 24, and Divine Mercy Sunday 2014, which will be April 27.

[NYer]

“We can say that it is very likely, given that the Pope made an explicit reference to this date (Divine Mercy Sunday) in the interview on the return flight from Rio, saying that he realized that, in winter, it would be difficult for pilgrims from Poland and countries of Central and Northern Europe to attend, and so it was better to postpone until the spring."

Divine Mercy Sunday

[Berlin_Freeper]

My birthday. :)

[Tax-chick]

How nice! Divine Mercy Sunday was my daughter’s birthday, April 2, the year Pope John Paul died.

[Biggirl]

Better to have it next year on the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, since Blessed John Paul II promoted it bigtime and the first saint he did declared a saint was Saint Sister Marie Faustina. Was up last week in Stockbridge, MA to the national shrine of the Divine Mercy for a year of faith group pilgrimage. It is very peaceful.

[Biggirl]

Plus it was the day before my birthday as well that year.

[Rodamala]

Funny you mention it... my birthday is shared with Pope John Paul II.

[Tax-chick]

Four of our children have birthdays that usually fall right around Holy Week. It’s a bit of a nuisance!

[SevenofNine]

HMM I thought he going do on December 8 that fine week after Easter Sunday

[Salvation]

[NYer]

Was that photo taken today?

[Salvation]

I guess it was back in May. Do you remember anything about it?

Actually this came with the email I got.....then I looked for the pictures on the web.

POPE FRANCIS WAS WAVING AT THE PEOPLE AT SAINT PETER’S SQUARE WEDNESDAY 29TH MAY 2013 GENERAL AUDIENCE WHEN, INCREDIBLY, A DOVE PERCHED ON HIS HAND!