A cause for the beatification and canonization of Pope Benedict XVI may be opened in the near future, with his former secretary expressing hope for the process. Archbishop Georg Gänswein has begun praying to Pope Benedict XVI for intercession since his passing, indicating a growing sentiment among some faithful. A Brazilian bishop authorized a private prayer seeking the intercession of the deceased pontiff shortly after his death. The Catholic Church typically requires a five-year waiting period before opening a cause for sainthood, meaning the process for Pope Benedict XVI cannot normally begin until 2027. The current reigning pope has the authority to dispense with the five-year waiting period, as Pope Benedict XVI did for St. John Paul II.
about 2 months ago
Since 1900, 4 of 12 popes have been canonized, one beatified, and one declared venerable.1
Remarkably, 5 of the last 7 popes are on track for or have completed beatification or canonization.1
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict XVI's former secretary, expressed great hopes for opening a beatification cause.1
In recent interviews, Gänswein stated he now prays to Benedict for help rather than for him.1
A Brazilian bishop, Dom Antônio Carlos Rossi Keller, authorized a private prayer seeking Benedict XVI's intercession shortly after his death.1
Many faithful worldwide privately invoke his holiness through prayer.1
Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022, triggering a standard five-year waiting period before a cause can open, targeting 2027.1
Pope Leo XIV could dispense this norm, as Benedict did for John Paul II amid "Santo subito" cries, but it seems unlikely given the nearness of 2027.1
A cause could launch as early as next year, though no guarantees exist and it may take longer.1
Benedict's writings and reputation for holiness continue inspiring Catholics globally.1
Assess canonization procedures for recent pontiffs
The canonization process for saints, including pontiffs, follows a structured path designed to verify heroic virtue, fama sanctitatis (reputation for holiness), and miracles attributable to the candidate's intercession. This begins with a petitioner—any faithful or group—who submits a request to the local bishop through a postulator. The bishop initiates a diocesan inquiry (processus informativus) collecting evidence on the candidate's life, virtues, and reported miracles. Once validated, the cause advances to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome for apostolic processes, theological consultation, and cardinal/bishopal review. Decrees recognize heroic virtues (declaring the servant of God "Venerable"), a miracle for beatification, and a second for canonization. The pope alone declares beatification or canonization, an infallible act confirming the saint's place in heaven.
These norms, codified in the 1983 Normae Servandae by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, emphasize rigorous scrutiny by the Promoter of the Faith (devil's advocate, though reformed), historians, theologians, and physicians. Earlier processes, as described by Benedict XIV's De servorum Dei beatificatione et beatorum canonizatione, allowed popular acclamation but evolved toward juridical formality.
Canonizations of popes were rare historically, reflecting the process's stringency. St. Leo IX (d. 1054) benefited from near-immediate popular veneration: after his death, Abbot Didier of Monte Cassino declared "Heaven has opened for the pontiff," with 70 miracles claimed within 40 days. Blessed Victor III enshrined his remains in 1087, confirming a "popular canonization."
Blessed Eugenius III (d. 1153), a Cistercian monk-pope, had his cultus approved in 1872 after centuries of devotion. Chroniclers praised his humility and justice, but formal processes delayed recognition until the 19th century. St. Pius X (d. 1914), the first canonized pope since St. Pius V (1672), underwent a modern process: a postulator's life appeared in 1928, leading to canonization in 1954 amid post-World War II devotion. These cases highlight a shift from acclamation to documented evidence.
Recent pontiffs exemplify accelerated yet faithful application of norms, often with papal dispensations. Blessed John XXIII (d. 1963) and St. John Paul II (d. 2005) were canonized together on April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis—the first dual canonization of pontiffs.
For John Paul II, the process was notably swift. Despite the five-year waiting period post-death, Pope Benedict XVI dispensed it due to "vastissima e solida fama di santità," evident in funeral crowds and tomb pilgrimages. The diocesan inquiry opened June 28, 2005; its validity was decreed May 4, 2007. Theologians approved heroic virtues on May 13, 2009; cardinals/bishops on November 16, 2009; and Benedict promulgated the decree December 19, 2009, declaring him Venerable. Beatification followed May 1, 2011, in St. Peter's Square, presided by Benedict. Canonization required a second miracle, aligning with standard procedure.
John XXIII's path paralleled this, though slower initially; his 2014 canonization with John Paul II underscored mercy themes from Vatican II. These cases show popes leveraging authority to expedite for figures of global impact, while retaining scrutiny: virtues examined for theological/cardinal degrees, miracles medically inexplicable. (Cf. Bishop Farina's 2001 beatification: virtues decreed April 24, 2001; miracle July 7, 2001.)
The procedures for recent pontiffs demonstrate fidelity to tradition amid modernization. Pre-1983 processes (e.g., Pius X) relied on biographies and synodal reviews; post-1983 norms standardized petitioner roles and apostolic validity checks. Acceleration for pontiffs—like John Paul II's six-year beatification—occurs via dispensation but never skips miracles or virtue proofs, preserving infallibility. No sources indicate laxity; instead, multi-stage vetting (theologians, cardinals, physicians) ensures objectivity.
Controversies, such as speed, are addressed by fama sanctitatis persistence and popular petitions, as urged in canon law. Recent examples (e.g., Carlo Acutis, canonized September 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV: Venerable 2018, beatified 2020) mirror pontifical paths, suggesting uniformity. For pontiffs, the process not only honors holiness but models Petrine virtue amid Church trials.
In summary, canonization procedures for recent pontiffs uphold rigorous, miracle-based standards, evolving from popular roots to juridical precision while allowing prudent papal flexibility. This balances devotion with doctrinal certainty, affirming the Church's mission to proclaim saints as heavenly intercessors.