Cardinal Pell becomes second Cardinal to criticise Pope's decision

A few hours before the resignation of Pope Benedict, the highest ranking Australian cleric, Cardinal George Pell criticized the decision to abdicate. The 85 year old had thus made it harder for his successors, as "People who do not agree with future Pope can mount a campaign for their resignation," said Pell to an Australian TV station. Benedict XVI was "very aware" of the fact that his resignation was a "break with tradition" and that it was "rather destabilizing" for the Church. For the Pope's biographer Andreas Englisch, Pell is a prime candidate as the Pope's successor. The Archbishop of Sydney is considered to be progressive on social issues, but on matters of faith and morals is classified as a a conservative.

Source

On hearing of the Pope's decision Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, personal secretary of John Paul said the latter “led the church to the end because he was convinced that one doesn’t come down from the Cross.”

See also French Archbishop criticizes Pope's decision

Vatican considers making John Paul II a saint in 2015

KATH.NET - Katholischer Nachrichtendienst

A Polish newspaper reports: there is "serious discussion" in "high church circles in Poland and the Vatican", that Pope Benedict XVI would make his predecessor a saint in 2015 at the Catholic World Youth Day.

In Poland, there is speculation about a possible canonization of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) in 2015 in Krakow, the city of which he was bishop, according to reports in the well-informed newspaper "Rzeczpospolita" this Friday. A name does not name the source sheets.

According to the report, the consultant to the Vatican Congregation for Saints, Father Szczepan Praskiewicz sees "no formal obstacles" to Benedict XVI for the first time performing a canonisation away from the Vatican. The Krakow Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, secretary to former Pope has been seeking to host since 2011 official World Youth Day. Where the big event will take place and whether in 2015 or 2016, will be announced in July 2013 at the next World Youth Day in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro.

In Poland, the call for a swift canonization of John Paul II is great. The Warsaw Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz however has recently spoken out publicly against an acceleration of the canonization process. John Paul II was beatified a year ago on 1 May 2011, by his successor Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square. It was the shortest process in modern church history.

The Vatican is currently investigating several reports of unexplained healings, which took place ​​at the intercession of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005). The postulator of the canonization process, Slawomir Oder, said in early May, there "three or four cases" where the initial medical examinations have taken place. For canonization, the official recognition of another miracle at the intercession of the deceased is required, which must have taken place after the beatification . As part of the beatification process, the healing of a French nun of Parkinson's disease in June 2005 was recognized as a miracle.

"Spirit of Assisi" lives!

Cardinal Dziwisz: The "Spirit of Assisi" lives in Cyprus The interreligious encounter that took place on the island of Cyprus carries on the "spirit of Assisi" promoted by John Paul II, said Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, for decades the personal secretary of Pope Karol Wojtyla. The interreligious encounter that took place on the island of Cyprus carries on the "spirit of Assisi" promoted by John Paul II, said Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, for decades the personal secretary of Pope Karol Wojtyla.

During the inaugural ceremony of the International Congress "The Civilization of Peace: Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue" the Cardinal recalled that John Paul II was convinced that the religious dimension should once again assume an important role and for this reason, on one day of 1986 the Pope confided: "A prayer of all religions for peace, that's what we need! A great clamor to God for peace".

From this, he explained, came the choice of Assisi, the city of St. Francis, "as the ideal place for believers of various religions to invoke God" which then occurred on October 27, 1986. Since he did not want Assisi to be "an isolated event", Pope Wojtyla encouraged the experience to continue, and since then it has been carried on by the Community of Sant'Egidio.

The Polish cardinal explained that the "spirit of Assisi" is that of peace:

"Faith must unite us, especially to protect great values, and above all, peace and friendship between men and between nations. Faith in one God must never lead to conflicts and wars. This was the aim of the prayer in Assisi and this is also the aim of this encounter."

Worshippers of Self at a retreat in Assisi in 2007

Dancing Franciscans in Assisi

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz defends Archbishop Nowacki

in the Polish espionage affair.

Translation of original article

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz has defended the Papal Nuntius to Slovakia who came originally from Poland, Archbishop Henryk Nowacki, against espionage allegations. Dzwisz told Vatican Radio, “this man who is making the accusations, accuses all Polish coworkers of the Pope and thus also Pope John Paul II.”

The attacks on church figures in Poland have recently reached an extreme level, which is a blow against all decent human beings . With reference to the wrong information in his own secret service documentation, Dzwiwisz demanded that secret service sources should not be taken at face value. The media had stated that the former director of the Polish Department of the office of the Vatican Secretary of State had co-operated with the secret service in Poland. under the pseudonym ”Henryk “