Pope approves miracle which allows the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta Marto

Pope approves miracle which allows the canonization of Francisco and Jacinta Marto

Pope Francis approved today the miracle attributed to Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the last stage of the canonization process of the two Little Shepherds of Fatima. 

The announce was made today in the Vatican, after a meeting of the Holy Father with cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Date and place of the canonization to be announced

To be announced is the date and place where Francisco and Jacinta will become the youngest non-martyrs saints of the Catholic Church.

This decision will be taken on April 20th, in a meeting of the Pope with the cardinals (Consistory).

The Rector of the Shrine of Fatima, Fr. Carlos Cabecinhas, “rejoices” with the announce of the approval of the miracle of the cure of eight year old child, in Brazil and waits “with tranquillity the Pope Francis decision relatively the announce of the date and place of the canonization”.

This afternoon, the bishop of Leiria-Fatima, Monsignor Antonio Marto, the rector of the Shrine and the Postulator for the Cause of the Canonization of Francisco and Jacinta, Sister Angela Coelho, give a press conference in Leiria.

Canonization process ends 65 years later

Brothers Francisco and Jacinta Marto witnessed, with their cousin Lucia, the Apparitions of Our Lady in Cova da Iria, between May and October 2017.

Francisco who died with 11 years old, and Jacinta who passed away before completing 10 years old, are buried in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Fatima, along Lucia.

The canonization process of the two siblings begun on April 30th 1952, when the bishop of Leiria, Monsignor Jose Alves Correia da Silva, opened the two diocesan processes over the fame of sanctity and virtues of the two brothers.

Following parallel paths, the diocesan phase of the process of Jacinta is closed on July 2nd, 1979, with 77 sessions and 27 testimonies. The process of Francisco is closed one month later, on the 1st of August, with 63 sessions and 25 testimonies.

Ten years after, on the 13th of May 1989, John Paul II decrees the heroism of the virtues of Francisco and Jacinta and the two little shepherds started to be considered venerable, fact the happens for the first time in the Catholic Church History with non-martyrs children.

  From this point on the two processes are gathered in one.

The next step in the beatification process of Francisco and Jacinta occurs ten years after, on the 28th of June, 1999, when Pope John Paul II issues the decree about the miracle of the cure of Emilia Santos, granted by interception of the two Little Shepherds, opening the way to the beatification, which celebration came to happen, in Fatima, the following year, on May 13th.

The beatification was being prepared to take place in Rome, but by the will of the polish Pope, the celebration was transferred to Fatima, where John Paul II beatifies Francisco and Jacinta Marto, presenting them to the Church and the world as “two candles which God lit to illumine humanity in its dark and anxious hours”.

The pontifical decree concedes the venerable Francisco and Jacinta to be considered blessed, with a liturgical party on the 20th of February.

Sister Lucia was present in the celebration of the beatification of her cousins and had then her last encounter with John Paul II.