John Paul II, Pius XII move closer to sainthood
Pope Benedict XVI has moved Pope John Paul II one step closer to possible beatification, the milestone before sainthood, the Associated Press reports from the Vatican.
Benedict on Saturday approved a decree attesting to John Paul's heroic virtues, the AP reports. Benedict still must sign off on a miracle attributed to John Paul's intercession before the late pope can be beatified. There are several possible candidates, most prominently a French nun who says she was cured of Parkinson's disease with the help of the late pontiff.
Benedict put his predecessor on the fast track for sainthood just weeks after his April 2, 2005 death, waiving the customary five-year waiting period and allowing the investigation into John Paul's virtues to begin immediately.
More controversially, Benedict also approved a decree on the heroic virtues of Pope Pius XII, despite opposition from Jews who say the World War II-era pope didn't do enough to stop the Holocaust.
Comments
Can't help but think the last man who would want to see JPII canonized a saint is John Paul himself. I don't think he would ever call himself a saint, and wouldn't want others to either.
Posted by: Ace | December 21, 2009 9:40 AM
Ace - I have to agree with you. I don't think he ever saw himself as worth of such an honor.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 21, 2009 3:28 PM