Pope Paul VI, who led the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978, will be beatified on October 19, 2014 after the Synod of Bishops.
The former pontiff Pope Paul VI will be reckoned among the blessed in October this year. The Vatican recognized the miracle to which the heir to the Holy See was involved a few weeks after the canonization of two Popes at once. The cardinals and bishops who are members of the Congregation for Canonization confirmed that Paul VI miraculously healed an unborn child in 2001. When the baby's mother was in her fifth month of pregnancy, the doctors said that there was a high probability of rupture of the fetal bladder, recommending the woman to have an abortion. However, the expectant mother categorically refused to take such a step and, on the advice of a friend of the nun, prayed to Pope Paul VI. Soon, the doctors re-examined the patient and were simply amazed: the equipment showed a significant improvement in the condition of the woman. The baby was born at the eighth month of pregnancy using cesarean section. But to this day, doctors who still can not believe what happened, insist that the boy (already a teenager) regularly undergo complete examinations. Now only one step and one miracle separates it from canonization.
By the way, some sources claim that Paul VI can be called a saint already in 2015.
The question of the possible beatification of the pontiff has been under consideration in the Vatican since 1998. About 80 witnesses from the diocese of Milan have already been interviewed, which Pope Paul (in the world of Giovanni Battista Montini) led before being recognized as heir to the Holy See. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI signed a special decree on the "heroic valor" of his predecessor, thereby taking the first step for his beatification. Such a decree is an official document confirming that Paul VI led the exemplary life of a Christian. Initially, the Vatican journalist Andrea Tornieli assumed that Montini would be blissful back in 2013, and the celebration itself would be held by Benedict XVI, but Torniel’s predictions still failed to come true.
Paul VI, who conducted the bulk of the Second Vatican Council in 1963, during his lifetime devoted great importance to the development of ecumenical dialogue, as well as the implementation of the reforms adopted by the cathedral. He became the first pope from the 9th century to meet with the Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople.
It is worth noting that the meeting with the Patriarch of Athenagoras in 1964 was especially significant: then both clergy removed anathemas from each other. Montini also insisted on negotiations with the Coptic Patriarch Genoa III and the Catholicos of the Malancar Church, Baselius Fugen I. In the mid-1960s, Paul VI helped create a joint working group to work with the World Council of Churches, and also established the Synod of Bishops. Montini became the first head of the Catholic Church to make business visits to all five continents, receiving the nickname "Pope Pilgrim." He visited the Holy Land, India, Portugal, Turkey, Colombia and many other countries. During his papacy, significant changes were made to the Roman Missal. The new order of the Mass, approved by Paul, included the use of national languages, the holding of the Mass by the priest facing the believers, and much more.
During his papacy, Paul VI often became the target of attacks, including for the revision of the Council of Trent by conservatives. A few months before his death, Montini held a solemn service to honor the deceased Aldo Moro, who died at the hands of the left-wing radical organization "Red Brigades" ("Brigate Rosse"). It is worth noting that while Moreau was in captivity, the pontiff repeatedly offered himself in exchange for him. Paul VI died in his residence from a heart attack at the age of 80.
