Beatification for woman who refused operation

ROME (AP, Reuter) - The Pope greets the faithful at the Vatican during his weekly general audience. Yesterday Vatican sources announced that in May the Pope is to beatify a woman who chose to go through with childbirth rather than undergo a life-saving operation. Gianna Beretta died in 1962 of complications from a uterine tumour days after giving birth to her fourth child. Beatification, the penultimate step towards sainthood, recognises that the subject practised Christian virtues heroically and performed a miracle. While the Catholic Church forbids abortion, it does not say a woman must give up her own life to bring a pregnancy to term.

(Photograph omitted)