St. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.?

Jesuit Superior General Arturo Sosa, S.J., suggested that possibility today, announcing in Bilbao, Spain, that: “We have formally begun the process of beatification for Father Pedro Arrupe.” That is according to a story in InfoSJ, an information website of the Society of Jesus in Spain, first reported in English-language social media by Rhina Guidos of Catholic News Service.

“We are still at the beginning of the process, but Angelo de Donatis, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome has given the diocese of Rome approval to open the process of beatification,” Father Sosa announced at a meeting in Bilbao of Jesuits and lay associates involved with the International Association of Jesuit Universities, asking attendees at the meeting to pray for the cause and for the assistance of anyone who has useful information about religious devotion to Father Arrupe. He was “a man of truth rooted in Christ and dedicated to mission,” Father Sosa said, “whose greatest miracle is that we are here today.”

Arrupe was “a man of truth rooted in Christ and dedicated to mission,” Father Sosa said, “whose greatest miracle is that we are here today.”

The process by which the Catholic Church declares that someone is a saint is a multi-step one, concluding with canonization. Father Arrupe is already called a “Servant of God.” Beatification, the declaration by the Catholic Church that the person is “Blessed,” is the last step before canonization in the normal sequence. (Father Arrupe has not yet been publicly declared "Venerable" by the Vatican, a step before beatification.) This latest news means, in essence, that the Society of Jesus is committing its resources to moving ahead with the canonization process, such as collecting testimony from those who knew Father Arrupe and soliciting proof of miracles that took place after prayers for his intercession. Historically such miracles have often been considered the result of the prayers of people asking for the saint's intercession.

The Jesuits will also probably appoint an official postulator for his cause if they have not already done so.