Pope Paul VI to be beatified

Pope Paul VI

Pope Francis has approved the promulgation of the decree for the cause of beatification of his predecessor Pope Paul VI. The approval was announced yesterday (Saturday. The beatification ceremony is scheduled to take place on 19 October 2014, at the conclusion of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Paul VI was born Giovanni Battista Montini in the Lombardy region of Italy in 1897, the son of a prominent newspaper editor. He was elected pope in 1963 and continued the work of his predecessor, St John XXIII. During his 15-year pontificate he wrote seven encyclicals. Paul VI died in August 1978 and was succeeded briefly by Pope John Paul who died in October 1978.

In her programme on Vatican Radio, Veronica Scarisbrick delves into the archives to bring you the words and thoughts of the pope who continued Pope John XXIII work with the Vatican Council, the first pilgrim pope, the pope of the moon landing and of Humanae Vitae.

Listen to her report here: www.news.va/en/news/discovering-paul-vi