The beatification of Pope John Paul II will be postponed till the next year, says Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.

“Everything is possible but, judging by the time left and the amount of procedures that have to be adopted, I think that it is virtually impossible to finish the beatification process of John Paul II in 2010,” said Cardinal Saraiva Martins in an interview for the news service Pontifex.

The retired cardinal, who is not personally involved in the process, which gives him the right to comment on it, claims that the delay will not be a tragedy.

“The world will not collapse,” he assured.

The Congregation is still gathering evidence of the supposed miracle of curing a French nun by John Paul II, necessary for the beatification process. (mg)