Beatification process

[Magnavox]

Why was JPII body exhumed for the beatification? I can’t locate anything on why this is done. Thanks.

 

[JULIAN_PINTO]

the main idea for exhuming our late pope’s body was so that all who are present for his beatification could pay their respects as this process is the third of the four steps in canonization of the person.
be blessed.

 

[puzzleannie]

It is also a required part of the process that the remains are publicly identified as those of the prospective saint.

 

[TrueLight]

Is his body… well preserved?

Are most popes eventually beatified/canonized?

 

[Spencerian]

Is his body… well preserved?

Are most popes eventually beatified/canonized?

Here is more on the composition of JPII’s coffin.

Many popes have been canonized, but not most. About 78 of the 265 popes are recognized as saintly.

After beatification, the coffin will be moved to an area inside the basilica for veneration by pilgrims for an indefinite period. The coffin will not be opened for now.

History tells of many saintly people who are incorrupt, a miracle in itself and grounds for sainthood, should the Congregation for the Causes of Saints consider it.

 

[Magnavox]

Okay, thank you all for the answers.

 

[Glennonite]

It is also a required part of the process that the remains are publicly identified as those of the prospective saint.

I’m sorry, but that’s not an answer. Why is it, “a required part of the process that the remains are publicly identified as those of the prospective saint.”

ID of the body is done publicly so there’s no denying whose body it is. But why do we need to ID the body? JP II was who he was. What does his corpse have to do with his sainted life? What if the body was lost to fire or other disaster?

And the other big question, what about decomposition? For a desiccated older corpse, ID may be questionable to the public. For a recently inturned body, there must be bloating and an extreme odor.

How about a DNA sample for ID, and a photograph for the viewing by the public? I know these are delicate questions, but I’d really like to know, please.

Glennonite

 

[TrueLight]

Here is more on the composition of JPII’s coffin.

Many popes have been canonized, but not most. About 78 of the 265 popes are recognized as saintly.

After beatification, the coffin will be moved to an area inside the basilica for veneration by pilgrims for an indefinite period. The coffin will not be opened for now.

History tells of many saintly people who are incorrupt, a miracle in itself and grounds for sainthood, should the Congregation for the Causes of Saints consider it.

Nowadays, the “incorrupt” part would be harder to prove as people are so well embalmed.

 

[JReducation]

Bl. John Paul’s body was not exhumed. The purpose of doing so is to ensure that the body has not been tampered with. This day and age, this is less likely today. When he was burried his body was placed inside a coffin, into a lead coffin and then an outer wooden coffin. Each one was sealed with witnesses and it was all filmed. They do take the coffin out of the tomb, but they don’t open it. The check to make sure that no one has tampered with the seals.

This is a little different when you’re dealing with someone who is burried under different circumstance. For example, St. Faustina, St. Giana Molla, and Bl. John Henry Newman, recent saints and blessed were exhumed and their caskets were opened to ensure that the person inside is the person they’re beatifying. In Bl. John Newman’s case, there was nothing left, not even a coffin. The only thing they found was the bronze plaque that had been nailed to the lid with his name on it. That was because John Henry Newman asked to have compost poured over his coffin to ensure that the remains would be consumed.

I hope this helps.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF