The Capuchin friar, Padre Pio, and Monsignor Josemar∅a Escrivβ de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei, yesterday moved closer to being declared saints in a special Vatican ceremony presided over by Pope John Paul. The ceremony involved the promulgation of decrees attributing miracles to both men.
For many Catholics throughout the world, the two are already de facto saints. Padre Pio, who died in 1968 after living much of his life in the Capuchin monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo in Puglia, was considered a saint not just because of his celebrated stigmata (the bleeding wounds of Christ) but also because of his many reported intercessions with God on behalf of believers.
In his role as founder of the influential prelature Opus Dei, Monsignor Escrivβ, who died in 1975, also inspired Catholics with his tireless work in the promotion of Catholic values in lay society.
In practice, however, Opus Dei, with its strong emphasis on lay involvement, has often seemed secretive, elitist and reactionary.
This view was reflected in at least one comment yesterday when a former Opus Dei member and now oustpoken critic, Ms Maria Carmen del Tapia, said: "If the Pope says that he (Escrivβ) is a saint, then he is a saint for me too, but certainly it would seem that a saint can have a bad character."
The final step in the canonisation process will come next month when the Pope and cardinals consider the causes of Padre Pio, Escrivβ and the 11 others.