The French Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of European construction, took a first step towards beatification, Pope Francis having recognized this Saturday his “
heroic virtues
” which now allow him to be “
venerable
”.
Read also: Living today, Robert Schuman would oppose the European Union
“
The Holy Father received in audience (...) Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints (...) and authorized the Congregation to promulgate decrees concerning (...) heroic virtues of the serf of God Robert Schuman
”, indicates a Vatican press release. Six other people were recognized for their heroic virtues or a miracle, the statement said.
Robert Schuman's beatification dossier, driven by a deep but discreet Catholic faith, was launched more than thirty years ago by the diocese of Metz, where the former statesman, born in Luxembourg in 1886 and died in 1963, rests. Recognition of heroic virtues precedes beatification, which requires a miracle. It then takes a second miracle, validated by the Vatican, to obtain the status of "
saint
".