There is no “rule” preventing a pope from presiding at beatifications. There is a tradition (not followed by John Paul II) that he only canonizes, but there is no law about doing beatifications. In the case of Newman he is simply making an exception to his policy. The British media is jumping all over this arguing that if the pope can change one rule why not change others — woman’s ordinations perhaps?, etc. etc.
Phil Lawler explains:
It’s just a little thing, but it could be a harbinger of something more significant. The headline on an AP story about the highlight of the coming papal visit to the UK—the beatification of Cardinal Newman—reads: Pope breaks own rule to beatify Anglican convert
Read more here.
