NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Two of the three children to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Fatima may move closer to beatification when the Congregation for the Causes of Saints meets in June of this year.

      The Congregation is expected to discuss-- and probably to approve-- a recommendation that Francesco and Jacinta Marto be beatified. Their causes would then be in the hands of Pope John Paul II, who could set a date for the beatification. The Portuguese hierarchy has already issued a tentative invitation to the Holy Father to visit Fatima for the beatification ceremonies.

      In Rome, many observers had speculated that the causes of the two Portuguese children would not advance to beatification until after the death of the third child of Fatima, Lucia Dos Sontos, who is now 92 years old. However, inside sources indicate that the Pope himself encouraged a prompt consideration of their causes.

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