VATICAN COMPLETES PROCEDURE FOR STEPINAC'S BEATIFICATION

( Editorial: --> 5195 ) VATICAN CITY, July 2 (Hina) - The Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints is expected to issue a decree concluding a fact- establishment procedure which should be the basis for the beatification of Croatia's Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. Once the decree is issued Pope John Paul II should set the date and place of the beatification ceremony. It is expected that Cardinal Stepinac will be declared "Blessed" during the Pontiff's visit to Croatia on October 3 at the shrine of Marija Bistrica (near Zagreb). The meeting of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, to be held on Friday in the Vatican, will be attended by Pope John Paul II and a Croatian church delegation, headed by Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic. The fact-establishment procedure has left no doubt as to Stepinac's sacrifice for the faith. Along with Cardinal Stepinac's name, the congregation will hear names of other persons who are to be beatified or canonised. The official announcement is then performed by the Pope in their native countries or in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. On Thursday the Pope received Bozanic and Split Archbishop Ante Juric in a private audience. The two Croatian archbishops informed the Pope about the preparations for his visit to Croatia from October 2 to 4. Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac was the Archbishop of Zagreb during World War II and after the end of the war he was tried and imprisoned by the then Communist regime. (hina) rml jn /mbr 021735 MET jul 98