Vatican says
beatification
of isle nun
on schedule

Events in the Vatican have a direct impact on two issues concerning Hawaii Catholics.

It is the pope who must appoint a new bishop to fill a vacancy almost a year old created when Bishop Francis DiLorenzo was reassigned to Richmond, Va.

And the pope's calendar includes the May 15 beatification of Mother Marianne Cope, a Franciscan nun who served leprosy victims at Kalaupapa.

The Very Rev. Joseph Grimaldi, judicial vicar of the Honolulu diocese, says he doesn't expect either to be delayed by the death of Pope John Paul II and the papal election process.

"The process of naming a bishop is ongoing until it reaches the Holy Father. I'm guessing the process has reached the Congregation of Bishops for discussion," said Grimaldi. The process began with the apostolic nuncio -- Vatican ambassador -- to the United States gathering names of candidates. He presents three names to the church department or Congregation of Bishops, which will present one recommendation to the pope. "The Holy Father usually says yes," Grimaldi said.

As for the Cope cause, the Sisters of St. Francis were assured by a Vatican official yesterday that the beatification event is still on. That's a relief to local people who have signed up for the tour package.

"I think the Holy Father's time and God's timing will still be in our favor," said Sister Marion Kikukawa, principal of St. Joseph School in Hilo and vice postulator of the Cope sainthood cause. She said the Rev. Peter Gumpel, an official of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, told Franciscan leaders in Syracuse, N.Y., that the process of picking a new pope would likely be completed in time. She said 18 Hawaii Franciscans plan to make the trip, as do about 50 from Syracuse.