VATICAN CITY, JAN 27 (ZENIT).- John XXIII will soon be beatified, as established today by a decree of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of the "Good Pope." John Paul II was present for the promulgation, which took place in the Vatican Consistory Hall.

    John XXIII led the Church for 5 years -- from 1958 to 1963. His name was one of several on the list of causes: one for canonization and six for beatification, as well as three declarations of martyrdom and one acknowledgment of heroic virtues.

    Archbishop Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, highlighted the "ecumenical context" of these promulgations, which were declared shortly after the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In particular, he mentioned that on June 5, 1960, Pope John XXIII established the Secretariat for Christian Unity, which in 1988 became a Pontifical Council. He also spoke about Pope Roncalli's work in promoting relations with other Christian Churches. "The pastoral contact he had with so many brothers and sisters who were not in full communion with the Catholic Church during his mission to Bulgaria and Turkey created in him a kind of categorical imperative that led him to seek the recovery of the unity lost over the centuries, for which Jesus prayed ardently to the Father before dying."

    Sister Caterina Capitani was present at the moment the decree was promulgated. She is a religious of the Daughters of Charity who benefited from a miracle now recognized by the Holy See, opening the doors for John XXIII's beatification. Sister Caterina works in the St. John of God Hospital in Agrigento, in southern Italy. "I felt great joy and was very moved, but could one feel otherwise?" she said after the ceremony.

    During the promulgation ceremony, John Paul II blessed Sister Caterina Capitani "he did the sign of the cross over me and patted my cheek," stated the nun, who was cured of a gastric perforation. Very moved, Sister Caterina said she regarded Pope John XXIII as "a great innovator of the Church with his gifts of openness to the world, his goodness, simplicity and poverty. These were values we were able to touch with our hand during his life; how different our world would be if they were more widespread."

    Sister Caterina hopes to be present for the beatification ceremony, which should be held this year in Rome. For the time being, no date has been set, however. ZE00012707