Pope Francis to canonize John XXIII, John Paul II on Sunday. Pope John XXIII, regarded as a reformist for leading Vatican II, and Pope John Paul II, viewed as a charismatic conservative leader, will be canonized on Sunday by Pope Francis, who in own ways has brought the papacy and the Vatican closer to its flock. Images by Raffy Tima/Collage by Earl Rosero
Malacañang joins the Catholic faithful in celebrating the canonizations of late Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II on Sunday by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Sunday (Manila time), deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday.
“We join the Catholic world and all people of goodwill as Pope Francis proclaims the sainthood of Pope John the 23rd, who opened the windows of the Church to the modern era; and John Paul II, who proclaimed the Gospel of fearlessly to tyrants and embraced the world,” Valte said.
She also noted that the Filipinos were especially close to Blessed John Paul II, who has visited the country two times, in 1981 and 1995.
“We continue to pay tribute to Pope John the 23rd [for] creating the first Filipino cardinal, who was Rufino Cardinal Santos; and John Paul II whose 1981 visit precipitated the official end of Martial Law, and whose World Youth Day visit was unforgettable in a world of anxiety where pastoral example gives comfort to the faithful and inspires dignified discourse among all peoples,” she added.
With the contrasting legacy of the two popes, the double sainthood is seen by Vatican watchers as an attempt to breach a traditional left-right divide in the Church, according to a report from Agence France-Presse.
“John XXIII is generally a hero to the church’s progressive wing while John Paul II is typically lionized by Catholic conservatives,” said John Allen, from the National Catholic Reporter, a US weekly. — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News
