Wednesday, April 02, 2008
SHORT TRIP TO SAINTHOOD ?
Pope Benedict XVI today backed sainthood for his predecessor John Paul II, citing the ``supernatural qualities'' of the Catholic Church's longest- serving pope at a Mass on the third anniversary of his death.
John Paul, born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, died on April 2, 2005, at age 84. At his funeral, mourners chanted ``Santo Subito,'' or ``Sainthood Now.''
During his 26-year papacy, John Paul displayed ``an exceptional spiritual and mystic sensibility,'' Benedict told about 40,000 worshippers gathered today at St. Peter's Square in Rome....
The findings of initial investigations in Rome and Krakow will be presented to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which will have to decide whether to beatify, or declare John Paul as blessed, before designating him a saint.
Read it here.
