LA STAMPA (Italy)
VATICAN CITY – The canonization of Pope John Paul II could be celebrated as soon as October, writes La Stampa, as Vatican sources say a presumed miracle has been approved by Church doctors.
The beloved Polish pontiff, who died in April 2005, is on his way to sainthood in record time. The second miracle — as yet undisclosed — has occurred after his beatification, and has been verified by a medical panel. The miracle must now be approved by theologians, and then by the cardinals and bishops of the Congregation, before finally being submitted to Pope Francis for the final “yes”.
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Photo by Ejdzej
Monsignor Slawomir Oder filed for a preliminary council of an alleged miraculous healing back in January, yet it was kept quiet until now. Although a date has not yet been announced, La Stampa“s Vatican correspondent Andrea Tornielli points out that it could potentially coincide with the feast day of Pope John Paul II on October 22nd.
As it is only eight years since his death, this is considered a very fast canonization. Emeritus-Pope Benedict XVI had celebrated the beatification quickly on May 1, 2011, and it has been indicated that Pope Francis is in favor of fast-tracking the sainthood of the second-longest serving pope in history.
The canonization of Karol Wojtyla will make him the second pope from the 20th century to be proclaimed a saint, after Pius X. Two others have been beatified, but not yet declared saints, and three more have been put to the council for consideration for sainthood. This shows that, in terms of the papacy, the 20th century may turn out to be quite crowded with halos.
