Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will attend a special mass in St Peter's Square in Rome this morning to mark the formal beatification of Pope John Paul II.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will attend a special mass in St Peter's Square in Rome this morning to mark the formal beatification of Pope John Paul II.
The move is just one step short of full sainthood for the Polish Pontiff who died on 2 April 2005.
Supporters of a candidate for sainthood normally have to wait five years before any evidence is even considered.However, the pressure for John Paul II to be canonised began almost immediately at his funeral.The evidence is centred around a French nun who was apparently cured of Parkinson's disease having prayed to the Pope soon after his death.Doctors have confirmed her recovery and are unable to offer an explanation.Progress towards full canonisation requires a second miracle and already hundreds of devoted followers of John Paul II have submitted claims.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will attend a special mass in St Peter's Square in Rome this morning to mark the formal beatification of Pope John Paul II.
The move is just one step short of full sainthood for the Polish Pontiff who died on 2 April 2005.
Supporters of a candidate for sainthood normally have to wait five years before any evidence is even considered.However, the pressure for John Paul II to be canonised began almost immediately at his funeral.The evidence is centred around a French nun who was apparently cured of Parkinson's disease having prayed to the Pope soon after his death.Doctors have confirmed her recovery and are unable to offer an explanation.Progress towards full canonisation requires a second miracle and already hundreds of devoted followers of John Paul II have submitted claims.
Today's beatification mass will be celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI along side senior church figures, including Cardinal Sean Brady and Cardinal Desmond Connell.Some 50 heads of government will attend, including Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The Irish Government will be represented by the Chief Whip Paul Keogh.Some say the beatification is premature not least because numerous clerical abuse scandals first came to light under his papacy.
However, many more Catholics believe that his struggle against suffering and his contribution to ending the Cold War make him an automatic candidate for sainthood.
However, many more Catholics believe that his struggle against suffering and his contribution to ending the Cold War make him an automatic candidate for sainthood.
The life of Pope John Paul II
The boy who would become Pope
The future Pope John Paul II
poses with a candle after
receiving his First Communion
in his home archidiocese
of Krakow, Poland
in this undated handout photograph.
The life of Pope John Paul II-More pictures
The life of Pope John Paul II-More pictures