Cause for beautification of Vietnamese Cardinal opened
On the fifth anniversary of the death of Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan of Viet Nam, Pope Benedict XVI expressed support for his beautification, The Associated Press reported today.
The cardinal spent 13 years in a communist prison camp – nine of which were in solitary confinement – before being exiled in 1988, when he left for the Vatican. He was never given a trial.
Before his death, Van Thuan was considered a possible candidate to succeed the late Pope John Paul II. He had been the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and he launched the compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which was published in October 2004.
Benedict said that Van Thuan “was a man of hope, he lived on hope, and he spread it to everyone he met.” He added that “it was thanks to this spiritual energy that he resisted all physical and moral difficulties.”
Beautification is the beginning of the process that can lead to sainthood.
For more on this story, click here.
The cardinal spent 13 years in a communist prison camp – nine of which were in solitary confinement – before being exiled in 1988, when he left for the Vatican. He was never given a trial.
Before his death, Van Thuan was considered a possible candidate to succeed the late Pope John Paul II. He had been the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and he launched the compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which was published in October 2004.
Benedict said that Van Thuan “was a man of hope, he lived on hope, and he spread it to everyone he met.” He added that “it was thanks to this spiritual energy that he resisted all physical and moral difficulties.”
Beautification is the beginning of the process that can lead to sainthood.
For more on this story, click here.
posted by Gillian @ 9/17/2007 02:12:00 PM
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