Kraków
When Pope Francis arrives here next week for World Youth Day, will he come as his predecessors did – Benedict XVI to honour John Paul II, and John Paul in turn to honour Paul VI? If he does not do so, he will further widen the rift with Catholics who are devoted to the sainted Polish pope. That there is a rift is beyond question.
It is spoken about openly in private, but rarely in public. It began with the decision, just a few months into the pontificate of Francis, to accelerate the cause of Blessed John XXIII – who did not have the requisite second miracle – in order to jointly canonise him with Blessed John Paul II, who not only had a second miracle, but plenty to spare.
