Start of the cause for the beatification of Baudouin, former king of the Belgians

The trial of the cause of beatification and canonization of King Baudouin of the Belgians has begun, indicated Saturday a note from the dicastery of the Causes of Saints. The Pope had announced his intention to open the cause of the Catholic sovereign during his apostolic trip to Belgium in September 2024. The monarch who reigned from 1951 to his death in 1993 is known to have abdicated for thirty-six hours in 1992 in order to not to sign the law on the legalization of abortion in his country

“Wanting to follow up on what was ordered, the dicastery began the planned process by creating on December 17, 2024 the Ordinary Historical Commission, composed of eminent specialists in archival research and the history of Belgium, in order to bring together and to evaluate the documentation concerning King Baudouin”specified the dicasterial note.

The announcement in Belgium

During his trip to Brussels, the Pope, in the middle of various meetings, made a point of visiting Baudouin's tomb in the royal crypt located under the Notre-Dame church in Laeken. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were present. The Sovereign Pontiff greeted “the courage of Baudouin when he chose to leave his position as king so as not to sign a murderous law» and cited him as an example at one time “where criminal laws are drawn up”the Holy See Press Room then indicated. Francis also hoped on this occasion that “his cause for beatification is moving forward“. A wish which turned into an official announcement, during the Angelus which followed the closing mass in the stadium bearing the name of the king, of the start of the process upon his return to Rome: “May his example as a man of faith enlighten those in power, declared François, I ask the Belgian bishops to commit to carrying out this cause.”