The Congregation for the Canonization of Saints ( lat. Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum ) is one of the central dikasteries of the Roman Curia , which leads the process of beatification and canonization , as well as the title of Teacher of the Church .
The congregation is headed by Prefect Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Bechcu , the secretary is Archbishop Marcello Bartolucci .
Content
Name of the Congregation
- The Sacred Congregation of Rites ( 1588 - 1969 );
- Sacred Congregation for the canonization of the Saints ( 1969 - 1984 );
- Congregation for the canonization of the Saints ( 1984 ).
History
Formed by Pope Paul VI the Apostolic Constitution of Sacra Rituum Congregatio on May 8, 1969 . Until that time (from 1588 ), the Congregation of Rites had been involved in canonization. In order to deepen the historical studies of the veneration of saints in 1902, Pope Leo XIII created the Liturgical-Historical Commission, which in 1914 was abolished by Pope Pius X. In 1930, Pope Pius XI , continuing the work of Leo XIII, established the Historical Commission as part of the Congregation of Rites. After the separation of the Congregation of Rites by Pope Paul VI in 1969 into the Congregation of Worship and the Congregation for the canonization of the Saints, Pope John Paul II by the apostolic constitution of Divinus perfectionis Magister of January 25, 1983 made certain changes to the congregation for the canonization of the Saints.
Functions
The Congregation for the Canonization of Saints prepares beatification and canonization materials in 3 stages:
- assisting the diocesan bishop and granting permission to begin the beatification (canonization) process;
- study of the material presented on the virtues or martyrdom of the candidate, the duration of his worship;
- organization of discussions and voting.
The petition of the Congregation for the beatification or canonization is sent to the Pope, who makes the final decision.
Prefects and Secretaries to the Congregation in the second half of the twentieth century
Prefects of the Congregation since 1950
- Clemente Mikara ( November 11, 1950 - January 17, 1953 );
- Gaetano Cicogniani ( December 7, 1953 - November 18, 1954 );
- Arcadio Maria Larraona Saralegi ( February 12, 1962 - January 9, 1968 );
- Benno Walter Gut ( June 29, 1967 - May 7, 1969 );
- Paolo Bertoli ( 1969 - 1973 );
- Luigi Raimondi ( 1973 - 1975 );
- Corrado Bafile ( 1976 - 1980 );
- Pietro Palazzini ( 1980 - 1988 );
- Angelo Felici ( 1988-1995 );
- Alberto Bovone (pro-prefect: 1995-1998 , 1998 - prefect);
- José Saraiva Martins ( 1998–2008 );
- Angelo Amato ( 2008 - 2018 );
- Giovanni Angelo Beccu (since 2018 ).
Congregation Secretaries for the Canonization of Saints since 1969
- Ferdinando Giuseppe Antonelli ( May 7, 1969 - March 5, 1973 );
- Giuseppe Casoria ( February 2, 1973 - August 24, 1981 );
- Traian Krisan ( December 7, 1981 - February 24, 1990 );
- Edward Novak ( February 24, 1990 - May 5, 2007 );
- Michele Di Ruberto ( May 5, 2007 - December 29, 2010 );
- Marcello Bartolucci (from December 29, 2010 ).