Catholic brethren set for Sunday’s double canonisation

 

Mangalore, 23 Apr 2014: Vatican city is all set for the Sunday’s ceremony to confer sainthood on popes John Paul II and John XXIII.

 

Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be declared saints on April 27, 2014.

 

Pope Francis announced the date on Monday, April 21 during a meeting with cardinals inside the Apostolic Palace.

 

Pope Francis had announced in July that he would canonize two of the 20th century’s most influential popes together, approving a miracle attributed to John Paul’s intercession and bending Vatican rules by deciding that John XXIII didn’t need one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysts have said the decision to canonize them together was aimed at unifying the church since each had its own admirers and critics. Francis is clearly a fan of both: On the anniversary of John Paul’s death this year, Francis prayed at the tombs of both popes– an indication that he sees a great personal and spiritual continuity in them.

 

People around the world wanting to follow the twin canonisations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on 27 April will be able to do so via a multi-faceted "digital platform".

 

Canonization is the act by which the Catholic Church declares a deceased person to be a saint, thereby getting included in the canon, or list of recognized saints.

 

Pope John Paul and Mangalore connection:

It was on Feb 6, 1986 that Pope John Paul visited Mangalore at Bajpe. Pope had visited a place near the Bajpe Police Station which is now popularly known as ‘Pope Ground’.

 

A shrine is being built at the place where Pope addressed a humongous gathering of more than four lac people. Also doubling the joy will be canonization of John Paul II by Pope Francis on April 27.

 

On April 27, various church and prayer halls will be observing special prayers and mass as part of double canonisation.