Pope John Paul II closer to sainthood after 2nd miracle confirmed

Vatican City, July 3: All that former Pope John Paul needs is the Pope Francis’ sign-off to become a saint later this year after doctors and the commission of theologians okayed the second miracle performed by John Paul II, the commission of theologians has also given its approval. All that remains now is for cardinals and bishops to give the go ahead and Wojtyla could become a saint, the Vatican Insider reports.

It may be recalled that the late pope had lamented the failure of Christians to bring the entire Asia under the spell of the Holy Word. He had caused ripples during his visit to India in 1999.

After China refused permission to Pope to hold meeting in their country, the Pope at a Delhi congregation of bishops and other Christians had called for reaping the ‘rich harvest of souls’ from Asia after the Holy Word was spread to Europe in the first millennium and to the Americas and Africa brought under its spell in the second. “The Third Millennium will see rich harvest of soul from the Asian Lands”, the Pope had said in his speech.

There was a very strong reaction to this ‘appeal’ of the pontiff from the Hindu organizations and others nationalist forces. The then RSS chief late K S Sudarshan had even given a clarion call to Indian Christians to set up their own Indian Church free of all sorts of foreign controls save for the spiritual and religious guidance from Vatican.

The RSS had even taken strides towards popularizing the concept of a ‘Swadeshi Church’ and found a good number of Indian Christians subscribing to this concept.

As Vatican Insider wrote, last April, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints’ medical commission recognized a healing performed on a woman by John Paul II as inexplicable. Thanks to this miracle, John Paul II got the halo in record time, just eight years after his death in 2005.

After one miracle is approved for an individual’s beatification, canonical proceedings require the approval of a second miracle, which must be performed after the beatification ceremony.

Two doctors from the Vatican’s medical commission had given their approval after a previous examination. The dossier containing the medical records and witness reports was presented officially and the cause was added to the list of causes to be examined.

The steps taken are a clear demonstration of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints’ eagerness to move things along quickly, as they did with John Paul II’s beatification, which Benedict XVI celebrated on 1 May 2011. The preferential treatment given to Wojtyla indicates that Francis is also in favour of the Polish pope’s canonization.

It is still early to talk about dates for the canonization, but the speed at which the examination of the miracle process is proceeding, means it could be celebrated on Sunday 20 October, just two days ahead of the feast day of the Blessed John Paul II, on 22 October.

The commission of cardinals and bishops proposed a canonization ceremony in December, Vatican sources said.

The Vatican has not revealed details about the second miracle in John Paul II's case, but like his "first miracle", it is said to concern a woman and will "amaze the world", according to unnamed Vatican sources.

The late Polish pontiff could be canonized December 8, on which Catholics celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which this year falls on a Sunday.

John Paul II was beatified May 1, 2011, just six months after his death, when a Vatican commission attributed to him the recovery of the French nun from Parkinson's Disease.

Canonization requires the attribution of one further miracle to the candidate once they have been beatified.

The charismatic 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 authorize 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.

(With additional inputs from agencies)