VATICAN CITY, AUG. 28, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II’s agenda for the next three months includes canonizations and beatifications as well as the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of his pontificate.
The Pope will canonize three saints and proclaim six blessed, including Mother Teresa of Calcutta, according to his calendar of celebrations for September, October and November, published today by the Vatican press office.
The key papal events begin with an apostolic pilgrimage to Slovakia, the Pontiff’s 102nd international trip, and his third to that former Communist country. The trip is scheduled for Sept. 11-14.
The other papal trip is a visit Oct. 7 to the Shrine of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii, near Naples, Italy, as part of the closing ceremonies of the Year of the Rosary.
The most important event in the papal agenda is scheduled for Oct. 19, World Missions Sunday, in which he will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his pontificate with the beatification of Mother Teresa, in St. Peter’s Square.
On Oct. 5, also in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope will canonize three missionaries. One of them is Italian Bishop Daniele Comboni (1831-1881), founder of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and of the Comboni Missionary Sisters.
Another new saint will be German Arnold Janssen (1837-1909), founder of the Society of the Divine Word, the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, and the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters.
The third blessed to be proclaimed a saint will be a religious of the congregation founded by Father Janssen — Father Joseph Freinademetz (1852-1909), priest of the Society of the Divine Word, who worked in southern Tyrol.
On Nov. 9, during the celebration of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Pope will proclaim five new blessed.
Among them is Spanish Father Juan Nepomuceno Zegrí y Moreno (1831-1905), of the Archdiocese of Granada, a descendent of an old noble Arab family, and founder of the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.
Another of the new blessed will be Belgian Father Valentin Paquay (1928-1905), a professed religious in the Order of Friars Minor who, from the monastery of Hasselt, radiated his apostolic fervor in preaching to, hearing the confessions of, and giving spiritual direction to members of the Franciscan Third Order.
Yet another new blessed will be Italian Father Luigi Maria Monti (1825-1900), founder of the Institute of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, which directs prestigious hospitals and charitable works.
The Holy Father will also beatify Spanish Mother Bonifacia Rodríguez Castro (1837-1905), founder of the Handmaids of St. Joseph, for the social and Christian development of women laborers.
Lastly, John Paul II will proclaim Blessed Rosalie Rendu (1786-1856) of France, daughter of the St. Vincent de Paul Charity, who was involved in great charitable activity and human and social development in the outlying areas of Paris, founding centers of education and assistance.
