Syriana, he said, took longer than normal to pass because his office felt it required a second opinion from authorities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the seven-emirate federation.
In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part.
Limited numbers of tourists are allowed into the accident zone for brief visits, despite radiation being well above normal, but scientists say generations may pass before it is entirely safe for people to return.
