In January, Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of Helsinki met in Rome with the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, and learned that the possible canonization of Blessed Hemming has progressed. The timeline for the canonization process is still unclear, and much work remains to be done in gathering all the necessary information and preparing the required documents.
“But the light is green,” Bishop Raimo stated after his visit. And that is perhaps the most important thing. Finland will indeed have another “own” saint. The bishop hopes that the canonization could take place as early as 2026. Finland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Finnish Orthodox Church have also supported the canonization of Blessed Hemming. In this sense, the celebration would also be a significant ecumenical achievement.
KATT