It’s a double celebration as Pope Francis, known for his rustic simplicity, has given the green signal not only for the late John Paul II to be made a saint by the end of the year but also made a rare exception for John XXIII to be canonised at the same time. Catholics would welcome the twin addition to their pantheon of saints, particularly since they have taken their new Pope to heart.
The charismatic Pope Francis has exceeded expectations in shredding tradition and upholding common sense. To believe in miracles is an article of faith. To insist on one for beatification after first earning the title of “venerable”, and a second for canonisation, may have been seen by the laity as a pedantic prerequisite. By breaking a long-held rule in canonising John Paul XXIII, to whom only one miracle is attributed and taken as “confirmed”, Pope Francis may have come even closer to the people he heads.
History records that John XXIII did more than many of his predecessors to bring the Catholic Church closer to its billion-plus acolytes, people of other Christian faiths as well as the outside world. His idea of opening up the Church window to see the world, and be seen by it, was testament to his reformatory zeal and progressive character. In these times, in which to bring the worshippers to the prayer house is itself an uphill task, popular reforms may help strengthen the bond between the clergy and the laity and enhance man’s faith in God.