Vatican: No Final Decision Yet on Mother Teresa’s Canonization

Responding to a press report that the canonization would occur next September, the Holy See Press Office told CNA that her sainthood cause has not concluded.

Mother Teresa circa 1994
Mother Teresa circa 1994 (photo: © L'Osservatore Romano)

VATICAN CITY — Despite rumors that a date has been set for Mother Teresa’s canonization, the Holy See Press Office told CNA Wednesday that the cause for sainthood has not concluded, and no date has been officially set.

Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed to CNA that there is “a project, a study being carried out” on the potential future canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa.

However, he said, there is nothing juridical in place yet, as the setting of a date would require the sainthood cause to be concluded and the Pope to give his consent.

Father Benedettini could not confirm whether there would be a meeting of cardinals next month to discuss the cause, as has been reported by Vatican Insider.

Earlier on Nov. 18, the Italian agency AGI reported that an official date had been set for Mother Teresa’s canonization and that the event would take place in September 2016. Similar rumors have hit the media previously, but each time, the Vatican has made clear that nothing official has yet been released.

Known for her work with the poor in the slums of India, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity. Her canonization cause is currently under way at the Vatican, with the study of possible miracles betting attributed to her intercession.

In September, Father Caetano Rizzi, who works in the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, told CNA that the Pope is interested in canonizing Mother Teresa during the upcoming Year of Mercy.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, has also commented on the idea of a Year of Mercy canonization, telling CNA in May that, while such an arrangement is certainly possible, nothing had been officially arranged at that time.

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