Pope Francis starts machinery to convert Belgian King Baudouin into saint

The name of King Baudouin of Belgium was heard loudly three decades ago, when He died in Spanish territory without any notice and shocked everyoneIt was July 31, 1993, in the middle of summer, which essentially captured him in his favorite place on the planet, Motril, a town in Granada where he had spent his holidays since the 1960s. Out of love for this area, he breathed his last while praying on the rooftop here.An event that shocked public opinion and now, 31 years later, he will be beatified, as Pope Francis has announced that he will do so soon: “His example as a man of faith could enlighten rulers. “I ask the Belgian bishops to commit themselves to pursuing this objective.”In a mass celebrated in Brussels the Pontiff expressed in an initiative which has been very well received by his faithful.

The Belgian monarch was on holiday at his summer residence with his wife, Queen Fabiola. He did it in his own little piece of paradise, 26,000 square meters, Villa Astrida, with views of the ocean and the Sierra Nevada on the horizonHere he died of a heart attack at the age of 62, a year after surgery for cardiac problems. However his health was not as good as expected at this age and given his quiet daily routine, he had to undergo prostate surgery early on and his condition was always shrouded in mystery. The rooftop where he had climbed to find peace and meet God himself was no longer possible after receiving the news of his sudden death.

“He often went out to the balcony of the house, because he liked to be quiet in prayer,” his niece, Ana María Chico de Guzmán, said on ‘Lazos de Sangre’, TVE, when they talked about it in a special. King of Belgium. “He went to pray and died here. “He had a heart attack and they found him here.”

Tells how his last breath was in his corner of the earthly world, while he was praying: “He went up to pray and at dinner time they called him by the bell as usual and he did not come down. Then they tried to bring my aunt to the general who was on guard at the time and they could not open the door. “They went to iron and my aunt went up the emergency stairs.” Nothing could be done for him. His repatriation was organized from Belgium and a state funeral took place on 7 August, attended by King Juan Carlos, representing Spain, and King Sofia.

The King of Belgium always stood up for his deep faithWhich he used in important moments of his life, but also regularly in his privacy. This is what he revealed to his closest circle, which is why he was venerated as a saint in his wake, as he was a king dedicated to constant prayer and reading the Gospel. Furthermore, it was said that his destitute profession was that of a priest, but the throne prevented him from doing so. The same happened with his wife Fabiola, who wanted to wear habits instead of the tiara. Now, Pope Francis wanted His example should be kept in mind, his sacrifice should be recognized and he should “enlighten the rulers” with his teachings.

They expressed it at Mass this Sunday, although before that, on this very Saturday, they had the opportunity to pray for his eternal repose in front of the same tomb of King Baudouin of the Belgians, in the Church of Our Lady of Laiken.