VATICAN (Agencies): On July 11, the Holy See Press Office plans for the beatification of Pope John Paul I, the ‘Smiling Pope’. Pope Francis is to preside over the beatification Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, September 4, Vatican News reported.
“During the beatification, the team of postulators will gift the Holy Father with a reliquary containing the relics of the new Blessed,” according to a statement from the Press Office.
The Diocese of Rome will host a prayer vigil the evening before the beatification led by Angelo Cardinal De Donatis, the papal vicar for Rome, at Basilica of St. John Lateran, CNS reported. The late pope’s hometown of Forno di Canale [now Canale d’Agordo] is to host the main Mass of Thanksgiving a week later after the beatification, the office promoting his sainthood cause announced.
During the September 4 beatification Mass, Bishop Renato Marangoni will read the Rite of Beatification, together with Beniamino Cardinal Stella, the postulator for the Cause of Canonisation, and Dr. Stefania Falasca, the deputy postulator.
Born Albino Luciani on 17 October 1912, Pope John Paul I’s 33-day papacy is the shortest in modern history. Vatican News noted that he was first pope to choose a double name, honouring his two predecessors: John XXIII and Paul VI.
He died in the papal apartments on 28 September 1978, three weeks short of his 66th birthday.
