Cardinal Amato sent a letter confirming that he received request for beatification of Dom Helder; according to the Archbishop the response was welcomed as “very positive sign”
Jessica Marcal
From the CN Newsroom, Cachoeira Paulista, Brazil
“A very positive sign,” is the definition of the Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Dom Fernando Saburido on the feedback given by the Vatican regards the beatification of Dom Helder Camara. The archdiocese received a letter stating that the Vatican received the request for the opening of the beatification process and awaits the position of Departments to give an opinion.
In an interview with noticias.cancaonova.com on Monday, 30, Bishop Fernando said he had personally met with the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, earlier this year, when the Cardinal was in Rio January. “He said he was very happy with this initiative and that would make it possible to be able to send it as soon as possible.”
The letter informs the receipt of the request by the Vatican, which is awaiting the opinion of all the departments – some have already responded – to give the final return that allows the start of the archdiocesan procedure.
If the answer is positive, the archdiocese will be ready to proceed; Archbishop Fernando comments that this is a matter of public interest. “Everyone is very motivated, this is an issue that really matters a lot, just seeing the impact that this news had here in Olinda and Recife. Everyone twists so much in order that in fact such authorization may be reached and then the process can start here in the archdiocese. “
What prompted the request for beatification?
Dom Helder Camara reputation for foliness was the factor that led the archdiocese to make the request for the opening of the beatification process to the Vatican. The local archbishop pointed out that Dom Helder was a man of much prayer and action, a bold prophet who faced many difficulties, especially with the military repression.
“A very human person, very available to the poor in a special way. All this means that we have the interest of this process moving forward, “he said.
Dom Fernando added that Dom Helder was a person of great influence in the life of Brazil. One example was his contribution to the creation of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, CNBB. In addition, internationally, Dom Helder contributed, even indirectly, to the progress of the Second Vatican Council.
“All this contributed to that he may be projected internationally, so that a man is recognized as a major leader of the country, a great personality of the twentieth century, as identified by many.”