Is Ivan Merz soon going to be a saint?
For sure he will! But what is uncertain is he going to be a saint soon.
But before any saint of Catholic Church can become actually saint, it must be proclaimed as blessed. On Ivan's To-Do list, (actually people's who are making the whole thing to happen) that check-box has already been checked thanks to pope John Paul II. Yes, our Ivan is already blessed. In this section you can read more about Ivan's beatification (declaration by the pope that a dead person is in a state of bliss, constituting a step toward canonization and permitting public veneration). Procedure of making a person a saint is called canonization.
The Pope declared Ivan Merz to be blessed
The pope John Paul II. on the Mass celebrated in Petricevac, Banja Luka on 22nd July has declared Ivan Merz to be blessed. First, president of Croatian bishop conference Josip Bozanic has addressed the proclaiming petition to the pope in whose diocese started process of beatification. Afterwards, bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica has read biography of Ivan Merz. Postulator of beatification, p. Bozidar Nagy, SJ was also present. Next, the pope declared solemn expression of beatification:
Fulfilling the wish of our brother, archbishop of Zagreb Josip Bozanic, numerous other brothers in episcopacy and other belivers, after we taken into concideration the verdict of Assembly for proclaiming saints, we are with our apostolic authority confirming that God's Servant Ivan Merz is from now on to be called blessed and every year on the day of his birth, 10th May, to celebrate him on the way it is defined canonical laws.
After proclaiming blessed, large picture of blessed Ivan Merz has been unreveiled and put next to the altair. While the chant and others were singing songs honoring newly blessed, believers were bringing reliquary with the relics of Ivan Merz. Archbishop Bozanic has thanked the pope for this act of beatification.
The Pope dedicates his sermon to blessed Ivan Merz
Ivan Merz was young man with many virtues who knew how to expand natural talents what he had, so he accomplished many human successes. However, that is not the reason why is his name today entered the list of the blessed. The reason why he has been today proclaimed as blessed is his success in front of the God... Name of Ivan Merz is to be remembered for the whole generation of young catholics and it meant the program of the life and action. It must be even today!
Your soil and your Church, your youth have been witnesses of tough moments during past few years and now you must work hard in order your life to return again to its full potential.
I am calling you not to draw back, but to increase actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina so it can become again country of the reconciliation, encounters and peace. The future of this land depends on you too! Do not seek somewhere else for a better life, do not run away from your responsibility waiting to someone else solve your difficulties.