Vatican official encourages prudence in discussing possible second John Paul II miracle

Rome, Italy, Jan 20, 2011 / 11:41 am

The prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, has cautioned against rushing to attribute a possible second miracle to John Paul II.

The cardinal refused to confirm the accuracy of reports of a second miracle, but stated, “only at the end, when the investigation is over, will it be appropriate to speak about it.”

A second miracle would open the door to his canonization.

Cardinal Amato explained in a Jan. 15 interview with L’Osservatore Romano that the congregation has advised the postulator of the late Pope’s cause for canonization to “avoid allowing the second miracle to have the same overexposure in the media as the miracle for his beatification.”

“Exposing the doctors and experts to any kind of conditioning factor must be avoided,” he said.

Cardinal Amato also referred to the curing of a French religious sister, Marie Simon-Pierre, which has been validated as a miracle attributed to John Paul II. The miracle opened the way to his upcoming beatification on May 1.

Sister Marie was suffering from Parkinson’s, the same disease that afflicted John Paul II. “John Paul II’s death had a great impact on Sister Marie, as he died from the same disease she had.  And she thought perhaps the deceased Pope could help her, since he knew the seriousness of the illness,” the cardinal explained.

Asked about the canonization of John Paul II, Cardinal Amato said it will take place only if devotion to the late Pontiff takes root in Catholics. “In other words, if the people appeal to the Servant of God to receive graces,” he explained. 

Everything involved in the process must be verified, as rushing to judgment “does not bear good fruit,” he added.

Cardinal Amato said that despite the speed with which John Paul II’s cause has moved forward, it has not occurred “at the expense of accuracy.” The recognition of the miracle “took place in a linear fashion, according to the stages and dynamics of this process, with guidance from specialists and scientists from the medical team.” He noted that the experts worked independently of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

The cardinal then praised Msgr. Slawomir Oder, the postulator of the cause, noting that his work “is extremely serious and must be carried out accurately.”