It is the news that Catholics in South Africa and the rest of
the African continent have been waiting to hear.
On
22 January 2015, Pope Francis met in private audience, Cardinal Angelo Amato
SDB, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In that Audience the
Holy Father authorised the Congregation to promulgate various decrees.
Among
the decrees authorised for promulgation is the decision taken by the Holy
Father that Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa died a martyr’s
death. This opens the way for Benedict Daswa to be beatified as the juridical
process has concluded. What remains now is a process towards a date for
Benedict Daswa's betification.
Already
a group of theologians tasked to review the life of South Africa’s Benedict
Daswa, unanimously voted late last year that Daswa be named a martyr. The
matter was then discussed by the Congregation of the Causes of Saints and
referred for recommendation to Pope Francis for the final decision. That
decision has now come back with Pope Francis accepting the recommendation that
indeed Daswa died a martyr's death.
The
Church in South Africa and in Africa will be gratified by the news of a new
"Blessed" soon to be beatified.
Source: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/01/23/benedict_daswa_to_be_beatified_as_pope_francis_agrees/1119705
