VATICAN, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - Catholic Pope Francis is set to honor his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, by beatifying him at an official ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday, the Holy See said.
Pope Paul VI will be declared a saint at a Holy Mass that will mark the conclusion of the extraordinary Synod on the family.
Paul VI, born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, reigned from 21 June 1963 to his death in 1978. He was the first pontiff to travel to five continents, making him the most traveled pope in history at the time.
The pope also became one of the most controversial pontiffs due to his attitude to birth control and other issues.
Upon his death, Pope Paul VI was buried in the grottos of the Vatican. According to his will, he was laid to rest not in an ornate tomb but in a grave in the ground.
