Late pope John Paul II may be made saint

Vatican City, June 19 (IANS/AKI) Late pope John Paul II could be made a saint, after theologians from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints reportedly approved his second miracle.

The Vatican is currently keeping the miracle a closely guarded secret, but like John Paul II’s first miracle, it is said to concern a woman and will “amaze the world”, an unnamed Vatican source told Italian media.

Once canonisation for the late Polish pontiff is approved by a commission of cardinals and bishops and has received Pope Francis’s sign-off, the most likely date for his sainthood is Oct 20, according to Vatican observers.

Oct 20 is the 35th anniversary of Karol Józef Wojtyla’s election as Pope John Paul II.

John Paul II was beatified May 1, 2011, six months after his death, when a Vatican commission attributed to him the “inexplicable” recovery of a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, from Parkinson’s Disease.

John Paul II, one of the most popular popes in history, died in 2005 aged 84 after a 27-year reign.

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was quick to authorise the examination of several reported miracles attributed to John Paul II after crowds of mourners cried “Santo Subito!” or “Sainthood Now!” at his funeral.

The process for sainthood requires two “confirmed” miracles.

–IANS/AKI

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