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Updated October 27th, 2020 at 04:05 IST

Venezuela: Doctor's remains exhumed for beatification

The remains of doctor Jose Gregorio Hernandez, popularly known as the "doctor of the poor" were exhumed Monday in a closed ceremony in Caracas.

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The remains of doctor Jose Gregorio Hernandez, popularly known as the "doctor of the poor" were exhumed Monday in a closed ceremony in Caracas.

The ceremony was part of the Vatican's requirements for the beatification of the first Venezuelan layman.

It took place at the Our Lady of Candelaria Church, in the centre of the capital, as the national anthem, religious songs, and traditional music of the joropo of the Alma Llanera, which is considered Venezuela's second hymn, were played.

Local Catholic authorities, with the support of a group of forensic doctors and other specialists, exhumed the remains of Hernandez which were in a small cement box.

The first exhumation of Hernandez's remains took place in 1975 when they were transferred from the Southern General Cemetery to Our Lady of Candelaria Church.

Venezuelan Cardinal Baltazar Porras said the medical team will need at least two more days "for all the protocol and medical examination" needed to properly conserve the remains of Hernandez and send all the information to the Holy See so a date of the beatification can be set.

"God willing, we would like it to be in the middle of April," he said.

The exhumation ceremony took place behind closed doors with some ecclesiastical authorities, ambassadors, religious and special guests, in attendance.

Outside, more than a hundred followers, carrying candles, rosaries and images of Hernandez, gathered to pay their respects.

Among the attendees was Rafaela Marrugo, a devotee who quietly prayed in front of a lit candle that had an image of Hernandez.

"My mom had three operations and thanks to him my mom is walking," she said

Hernandez was born in 1864 in the town of Isnotu, in the western state of Trujillo.

Hw died in Caracas at the age of 54 as a result of a head injury after being hit by a vehicle.

The doctor was declared venerable in 1986 by the then Pope John Paul II, but he had to wait 71 years for his beatification which will be carried out by the Vatican next year.

The case that prompted the beatification was that of the Venezuelan girl Yaxury Solorzano, who was seriously injured after being shot in the head and managed to recover completely in a miracle that is attributed to Hernandez.

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Published October 27th, 2020 at 04:05 IST

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