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Skriven 2005-05-14 03:06:28 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

BENEDICT XVI ANNOUNCES CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, MAY 13, 2005 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today announced the opening of
the cause of beatification of John Paul II, waiving the normal waiting period
of five years after the death of a Servant of God. The Pope made the
announcement in the course of a meeting with the Roman clergy in the basilica
of St. John Lateran.

The rescript - or document authorizing the act - is dated May 9, 2005 and is
signed by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins and Archbishop Edward Nowak,
respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints.

This morning, after traveling by car to the Vicariate of Rome, the Pope, in a
ceremony in the Hall of Conciliation, greeted the staff who work there and
visited the pontifical apartments.

Benedict XVI then went to the basilica of St. John Lateran where he met the
clergy of his diocese. After a brief greeting pronounced by Cardinal Camillo
Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, the Pope delivered his address.

He said that "the extraordinary experience of faith that we experienced with
the death of our much-loved Pope John Paul II, has shown us a Roman Church
profoundly united, full of life and rich in enthusiasm; all this is the fruit
of your prayers and your apostolate."

After underlining the need "to always go back to the roots of our priestly
calling," in other words, "Jesus Christ, the Lord," Benedict XVI pointed out
that as priests "we are charged not to say many words, but rather to echo and
to be bearers of a single 'Word,' that is the Word of God, made flesh for our
salvation. ... We have to be His true friends, to share His feelings, to want
what He wants and not want what He does not want."

The Pope invited the priests to make their own these words of John Paul II:
"Mass is, in an absolute way, the center of my life and of each of my days."
Speaking of obedience to Christ, he recalled that this "takes concrete form in
ecclesial obedience, which for a priest is, in everyday practice, above all
obedience to his bishop."

Benedict XVI also recalled what he had said in his homily prior to the
conclave, when he referred to "holy restlessness; a restlessness to bring
everyone the gift of faith." After highlighting that Christ "calls us to be His
witnesses," the Pope mentioned the necessity of "being with God," of seeking
"intimate communion with Christ," in order "not to give in to fatigue, but to
resist and, even more so, to grow as people and as priests."

"Time to be in the presence of God is a true pastoral priority," he continued,
"in the final analysis, the most important priority. John Paul II demonstrated
this to us in the most tangible and luminous of ways in all the circumstances
of his life and his ministry."

The Holy Father affirmed that "our personal response to the call of sanctity is
fundamental and decisive. This condition is essential, not only for our
personal apostolate to be fruitful but also, and more broadly, for the Church's
face to reflect the light of Christ."

"My ministry as bishop of Rome follows in the footsteps of my predecessors, in
particular taking up the precious heritage left by John Paul II. Dear priests
and deacons, let us walk together along this path with serenity and trust."

After his address, Benedict XVI listened attentively to questions and
reflections presented by various priests and religious, and thanked them for
the remarks. He then returned to the Vatican by car.
BXVI-VISIT LATERAN/BEATIFICATION JOHN PAUL/... VIS 050513 (610)

SUMMARY

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