KRAKOW, Poland, NOV. 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- A tribunal in Poland that is gathering information on the life and virtues of John Paul II held its first session in Krakow.
Today’s session came on the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, the name day of the Pontiff, who was born Karol Wojtyla.
Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, formerly John Paul II’s personal secretary, presided over the Mass in Wawel Cathedral which preceded the inauguration of the tribunal.
The ceremony was similar to one held June 27 in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome, which opened the diocesan phase of the Pope’s beatification.
Before vespers, Monsignor Slawomir Oder, postulator of John Paul II’s process of beatification and canonization, presented the appointment of the vice postulator, Father Stefan Rylko.
Two priests, Father Jacek Urban and Father Grzegorz Rys, will take up their posts as members of the commission.
Archbishop Dziwisz, 66, delegated the work of the tribunal to be directed by Monsignor Tadeusz Pieronek, former rector of Krakow’s Pontifical Academy of Theology.
Secrecy
The tribunal’s members, including Archbishop Dziwisz, the «de jure» president, took an oath «to carry out the request faithfully and diligently,» and «to maintain secrecy over the witnesses’ depositions.»
After the oath, the protocol of the tribunal was read, as well as the letter of Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s vicar for Rome, in which he requested the archbishop of Krakow to establish a tribunal to hear testimonies from Poland.
Thousands filled the cathedral to pray for Karol Wojtyla, accompanied by music composed especially for these vespers by Father Robert Tyrala.
