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Pope OKs miracle for Paul VI in sainthood process

By Frances D'emilio
Published May 10, 2014 1:27pm ET
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Pope OKs miracle for Paul VI in sainthood process
FILE -- This file photo taken on June 21, 1963, shows Pope Paul VI portrayed after his election, with white Pontifical robe and pectoral cross. Pope Francis has approved a miracle credited to the intercession of Paul VI and set the date for the late pontiff's beatification for Oct. 19, the Vatican said Saturday. Francis had authorized the beatification, the last formal step before possible sainthood, a day earlier, the Vatican said. Paul VI, who reigned as pontiff from 1963-1978, made landmark progress in improving Catholics' relationship with other Christians. His papacy is also remembered by his decision, after years of study, to ban contraception for Catholics, in a 1968 encyclical, "Humanae Vitae" ("of human life"). (AP Photo/Luigi Felici) | LUIGI FELICI

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Paul VI, who did much to modernize the Roman Catholic Church but pronounced a ban on artificial contraception which was widely defied by the faithful, has moved a step closer to sainthood with Pope Francis’ official confirmation of a miracle.

The date for the beatification was set for Oct. 19, the Vatican said Saturday, a day after Francis formally certified the miracle said to involve a risky birth in California. Beatification is the last formal step before possible sainthood.

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Catholicism Pope Francis Religion Vatican World