The Canonization of Pope Paul VI: A Reflection on Papal Saints and Vatican II
Pope Francis to Canonize Pope Paul VI: What Does This Mean for the Catholic Church?
In a historic move, Pope Francis will canonize Pope Paul VI as the 82nd saint among the 266 popes on October 14, 2018. This will make Paul VI only the eighth papal saint since 1000 AD, but the fourth of the twentieth century, joining the ranks of Pius X, John XXIII, and John Paul II. This raises the question: what significance does this hold for the Catholic Church?
The tradition of canonizing popes as saints dates back to the early days of the Church, where popes were routinely acclaimed as saints by the faithful. However, after a period of decline in papal canonizations, the process became more selective and centralized by the papacy. The canonizations of papal saints became rare, with only a few popes being recognized for their holiness and contributions to the Church.
The recent trend of canonizing post-Vatican II popes, such as John Paul II, John XXIII, and now Paul VI, marks a departure from the traditional and papal models of papal canonizations. These canonizations reflect the importance of Vatican II and the changes it brought to the Church. Pope Francis has emphasized the significance of Vatican II in the canonizations of these popes, signaling a new era of openness to the Spirit within the Church.
However, despite the frequency of post-Vatican II papal canonizations, the Catholic Church is facing challenges such as declining Mass attendance, dwindling vocations, and a loss of influence over its followers. The institutional failures and instability of the past sixty years raise questions about the impact of Vatican II and the value of these canonizations in the face of the Church’s decline.
As Pope Francis prepares to canonize Pope Paul VI, the Catholic Church stands at a crossroads, grappling with its past and looking towards the future. The canonization of Paul VI, along with other post-Vatican II popes, may serve as a reminder of the Church’s rich history and the need for renewal and reform in the modern world.
Written by Jake Neu from Nashville, Tennessee, this news story delves into the significance of Pope Francis’ decision to canonize Pope Paul VI and its implications for the Catholic Church. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic event.