Thanks to the dispensation from the normal 5-year waiting period after death, granted by Benedict XVI, the diocesan inquiry on the life, virtues and fame for sanctity of the Servant of God Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, will be opened in the basilica of St. John Lateran on Tuesday, 28 June. At 7.00 pm, Cardinal Camillo Ruini will preside over the First Vespers of the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome. Then Msgr. Slawomir Oder will present to the cardinal ordinary judge of the diocesan tribunal the power of attorney issued to him as postulator of the cause together with the documents collected and so will begin the process “of the life and the virtues in species, as well as the miracles in kind, of the Servant of God John Paul II (in life Karol Wojtyla), Supreme Pontiff”. The first act of the process with be the oath made by Cardinal Ruini himself, and then by the judges and notaries of the diocesan tribunal, and last of all by the postulator of the cause, after having produced the list of the persons to be interrogated. The successive audiences will be held behind closed doors. Once the juridical obligations have been satisfied, all those present will participate in the prayer “to implore graces for the intercession of the Servant of God Pope John Paul II”, according to the text approved by the cardinal vicar of Rome and due to be issued on the evening of Tuesday 28 June. It was Cardinal Ruini who announced the start of the process of the beatification and canonization of John Paul II on the conclusion of the diocesan meting on the family (6-9 June) opened by Benedict XVI with a report on the theme of the meeting itself.
