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Article: Sainthood for a Pope? John XXIII is headed for beatification in 2000.(RELIGION)(Society)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Newsweek
- Article date:
- June 21, 1999
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In the last 900 years, the Roman Catholic Church has found only three popes worthy of veneration as saints. As part of the church's millennial celebration next year, however, John Paul II would like to beatify three 20th- century popes, the last step before canonization. The candidates are Pius XII, who guided the church throughout World War II and into the cold war with communism; John XXIII, the smiling pope who charmed the world with his wit and convoked Vatican Council II, the first church council in 100 years, and Paul VI, who brought the council to a close and reaffirmed the church's ban on contraception. But even a pope doesn't always get what he wants; he is bound ...