Colonial-era bishop, governor of Mexico beatified

June 07, 2011

Nearly three centuries after Pope Benedict XIII introduced his beatification cause, Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza (1600-59), who briefly governed Mexico during the colonial era, was beatified on June 5 in the cathedral of the Diocese of Osma-Soria (Spain). Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided at the beatification.

The blessed was appointed Bishop of Tlaxcala (Mexico) in 1639 and transferred to Osma-Soria in 1653. L’Osservatore Romano recently described the blessed’s beatification cause as “one of the most complex” in the Church’s history.

“Let us be united in prayer at this time with all who, in the Cathedral of El Burgo de Osma in Spain, are celebrating the beatification of Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, an outstanding bishop of seventeenth-century Mexico and Spain,” Pope Benedict said during his June 5 Regina Caeli address. “He was a man of vast culture and profound spirituality and a great reformer, a tireless pastor and defender of the Indians. May the Lord grant to his Church many holy pastors like Blessed Juan.”

 

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Further information:

• Recitation of the Regina Caeli in the Zagreb Hippodrome (Vatican Radio)
• Act of brotherhood between Mexico and Spain in the name of the Blessed Juan de Palafox (Fides)
• Upcoming beatification ‘one of most complex’ in Church history (CWN, 5/17)