(From our correspondents in Sydney) The Australian Church hopes that the Pope’s visit to the sanctuary dedicated to her may accelerate the process of canonization of Mary Mackillop, the first Australian Blessed, who was chosen as one of the ten patrons of WYD in Sydney. The hope has been expressed among others by the Most Rev. Anthony Fisher, bishop coordinator of WYD, commenting on the visit of Benedict XVI to the Mary McKillop Memorial (tomb of the Australian Blessed) tomorrow, 17 July. "A word from the Pope would be a testimony of how seriously the role of this woman is taken in the Church". However, added Bishop Fisher, "decisions of this kind depend on Rome and not of course on us". Proclaimed Blessed by John Paul II in Sydney in 1995, Mary MacKillop is known as Mother Mary of the Cross and was born into a family of Scottish emigrants in Melbourne in 1842. She dedicated her life to assistance to the poor and needy, seeking to ensure a proper education to them all.” ” ” “
