Word: vaticans
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DIED. Anthony Li Du'an, 79, Chinese Archbishop of Xian who spent years in jail under Mao Zedong, then helped revive the Catholic Church after the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution; in Xian. One of four Chinese bishops invited to a conference at the Vatican last fall by Pope Benedict XVI (the Chinese government barred them from attending), Li grew his diocese--part of China's state-run church, which does not officially recognize Rome's authority--to 60 parishes and 20,000 members. Steadfastly loyal to the Holy See, he pushed for reconciliation between Beijing and the Vatican. "We publicly...
...rolling countryside of southern Poland. He died 85 years later in Rome as the most widely beloved - and arguably most influential - pope of the past millennium. But exactly when the Catholic Church will officially recognize Pope John Paul II as a saint is a question only the Lord (and Vatican bureaucrats) can answer...
...somewhat more human process may eventually grant John Paul another notable title: The Great. He was already endowed with the title "Magnus" by Rome's La Sapienza University in 2003, while top Vatican Cardinals and even Benedict himself have repeatedly referred to him as "Il Grande" Pope John Paul II. There is no official Vatican procedure for bestowing the title, explained Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican correspondent for Il Giornale daily. "It's something that becomes invested over time," he said. So for the most impassioned followers of the Polish pontiff, there is nothing holding you back from calling him John...
...those praying and chanting for "Santo Subito!" (Saint Right Away!) must be forewarned that even the most obvious Vatican edicts take time. Benedict, a close aide and good friend to the departed pontiff, appears to be leaving his fate in the hands of the crew of Vatican officials and Catholic volunteers doing the paper work and pounding of the pavement to verify the cause. Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Saturday that Benedict's words were simply an expression of "his hope" and not a call to speed things up. Normal procedures must be followed for a decision that will...
...There is a sense among Vatican insiders that these two recent decisions - along with a looming decision to replace Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano - is a sign that Benedict is getting a sure handle on the running of the massive church hiearchy. Still, the Pope knows he can't simply sit behind his desk in Rome. This trip to Poland, which will be followed this year by stops in Spain, Germany and Turkey, will at once pay proper homage to John Paul and show that there is a new man very much in charge...