Vatican City, Nov 13, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The diocesan phase of the beatification process of Pope John Paul I, who reigned for only 33 days, came to completion on Saturday at the cathedral of his native diocese of Belluno.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of the Saints gave its permission to open the beatification process in June 2003, after the late Pope was named a Servant of God. This title recognizes the late Pope’s heroic Christian virtues.
The diocesan phase began in November 2003. The miraculous curing of an Italian man of his cancer has been attributed to the intercession of the “smiling Pope.”
According to a BBC report, nearly 200 witnesses have so far given evidence of John Paul I’s Sanctity, with reports now being handed over ceremonially to Rome for further study.
Pope John Paul I succeeded Pope Paul VI. He died in 1978 and was succeeded by Pope John Paul II.
