Sticking to tradition

From Mr Christopher Keeffe SIR – We should all rejoice that Pope Benedict XVI has approved the miraculous healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan at the intercession of Cardinal Newman (Report, July 10).
Since his election to the See of Peter Pope Benedict has underlined the difference between beatification and canonisation, which had been blurred since the Second Vatican Council, by not presiding over any beatifications of his pontificate to date.
Essentially, canonisation permits universal veneration of a person. Beatification, however, permits restricted veneration to a local church or region and religious community. As such, since 1646 and Pope Urban VIII, the pope has delegated either the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints or a local bishop to preside at the rite (after which the person is entitled to be styled Blessed). Pope Paul VI broke tradition by presiding at the beatification of Maximilian Kolbe on October 17 1971 and Pope John Paul II continued the practice.
Thus it may be that Cardinal Newman may beatified whether in Rome or in Birmingham (or Westminster) by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.
While it is accepted that the Holy Father has a deep affection for Cardinal Newman it seems likely that Pope Benedict will stick with his return to tradition. I note that on October 9 2005 the beatification of the “Lion of Münster” Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen was presided over by Cardinal Saraiva Martins, the then prefect of the Congregation for Causes of the Saints. This great German cardinal elevated by Pope Pius XII stood against the tide of Nazism.
Of course, all things are in the hands of the Holy Father.
Yours faithfully, CHRISTOPHER KEEFFE West Harrow, Middlesex