Reformist Pope Paul VI moves step away from sainthood

Pope Paul VI, who banned contraception but presided over Vatican reforms in the 1960s, moved one step away from sainthood on Sunday as Pope Francis beatified him. The beatification mass took place in a sun-drenched St Peter’s Square, with a red tapestry bearing an image of Paul VI smiling with open arms unfurled from the basilica. Paul VI is credited with being one of Pope Francis’s models, a humble man in many ways to whom the Argentine pope frequently refers in his speeches.

To this great pope, this brave Christian, this tireless apostle, we can say only one word today before God, as simple as it is sincere and important: thanks!

Pope Francis

Francis’s predecessor, the arch-conservative Benedict XVI, was on hand for the event, timed to coincide with the end of a two-week meeting of the world’s bishops known as a synod, for it was Paul VI who started the Vatican tradition. The just-ended synod was not as collegial as the late pope intended, however, failing to reach consensus on creating a more welcome stance towards gays and allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion.

World Pope