The Vatican calendar for the Year of Mercy deliberately set aside 4 September, 2016, as a possible date for the canonisation of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, if her sainthood cause is concluded by then.
The canonisation would be celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at the end of a three-day pilgrimage of people who, like Blessed Teresa was, are engaged in corporal works of mercy.
“4 September is a hypothesis or plan within the calendar for the jubilee year,” Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told Catholic News Service on 19 November.
The Italian news agency AGI reported on 18 November that a panel of physicians convoked by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes agreed there was no medical or natural explanation for the recovery of a Brazilian man suffering from multiple brain tumours. His healing after prayers for the intercession of Blessed Teresa was submitted as the miracle needed for her canonisation.
Fr Lombardi urged caution, however. “The process is still underway and official communications will be given at the appropriate time.”
Members of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes still must review the physicians’ report on the healing. If the members have no further questions, Pope Francis would be asked to issue a decree recognising the healing as a miracle worked by God through the intercession of Mother Teresa.
With the decree, the pope would survey the world’s cardinals and set a date for a consistory of cardinals who live in or could come to Rome for the occasion. They would be asked to recommend the pope canonise Blessed Teresa; if the pope agrees, he would set the date for the ceremony.
AGI had reported the likely date of the canonisation would be 5 September – Mother Teresa’s feast day and the anniversary of her death. However, 5 September is a Monday in 2016 and Fr Lombardi said the canonisation would not take place on a Monday.