sainthood
Report: Pope Paul VI to be beatified after California ‘miracle’
By Josephine McKenna — April 25, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) According to the weekly magazine of the Pauline Fathers, a miracle involving the birth of a baby in California in the 1990s has been attributed to the late Italian pope; the identity of the family and its location has not been revealed.
Meet the women behind the miracles credited to John Paul II and John XXIII
By Josephine McKenna — April 24, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Costa Rican mother of four says she was healed of an inoperable brain aneurysm after praying to Pope John Paul II and receiving a message of "don't be afraid."
FACT BOX: Everything you need to know about popes and saints
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) How many popes have been made saints? What's the "devil's advocate"? Find out in this drive-by tour of the process of making saints.
ANALYSIS: Does being pope give you an inside track to sainthood?
By David Gibson — April 23, 2014
(RNS) The shift to make popes into saints could backfire if the public assumes that every pontificate comes with an automatic -- or at least expected -- halo.
The legacies of John Paul II and John XXIII
By Amanda Murphy — April 22, 2014
(RNS) Religion News Service asked experts, biographers and theologians to assess the two popes who will be canonized on Sunday.
John Paul II and John XXIII: A rush to sainthood?
By Josephine McKenna — April 22, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The fast-track canonization for Pope John Paul II, and the bend-the-rules process for Pope John XXIII, have raised questions about a rush to sainthood for the two most influential popes of the 20th century.
Sainthood rites for John Paul II, John XXIII to be beamed around the world
By Josephine McKenna — April 1, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For the first time, viewers will be able to watch the historic canonizations of Pope John Paul II and John XXIII live in 3-D movie theaters in 20 countries across North and South America and Europe.
Benedict XVI on John Paul II: I always knew he was a saint
By Eric J. Lyman — March 7, 2014
ROME (RNS) "The reality that John Paul II was a saint became increasingly apparent to me in the years I worked together with him," Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said.
Vatican theologians OK alleged miracle attributed to Pope Paul VI
By Eric J. Lyman — February 26, 2014
ROME (RNS) Now that a panel of theologians have signed off on a miracle attributed to the intercession of Pope Paul VI, it only requires a review by Pope Francis to be considered official.
Vial of Pope John Paul II’s blood stolen from Italian church
By Eric J. Lyman — January 27, 2014
ROME (RNS) The thief or thieves made off with a large crucifix and a gold reliquary containing the vial of the blood of John Paul, who will be proclaimed a saint in April.
Pope Francis shakes up Vatican Bank, sets financial cap for sainthood
By Eric J. Lyman — January 15, 2014
ROME (RNS) The most high-profile figure sacked on Wednesday was Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was Pope Benedict XVI's secretary of state and the face of administrative woes of Benedict's papacy.
Alleged miracle puts Pope Paul VI one step closer to sainthood
By Eric J. Lyman — December 13, 2013
ROME (RNS) Paul VI was a pivotal pope for the Roman Catholic Church, even as he is sometimes overshadowed by the more charismatic papacies of John XXIII and John Paul II.
Record crowds expected for John Paul II, John XXIII canonizations
By Eric J. Lyman — October 22, 2013
ROME (RNS) Crowd estimates were made Tuesday for next year's canonization of the man who will be known as St. Pope John Paul II.
Pope to canonize John Paul II and John XXIII in April
By Eric J. Lyman — September 30, 2013
ROME (RNS) Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be formally declared saints on April 27, 2014 -- a bit of ticket-balancing by Pope Francis, who may be hoping to heal splits in the church by pairing the canonization of a pope who is a hero to the left and one who is a hero to the right.
Are miracles really needed to become a saint?
By Alessandro Speciale — July 15, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With a rare, if not unprecedented, move, Francis has rekindled a years-old debate in Catholic circles, with some asking whether miracles are really needed for sainthood anymore.
