Pope Francis announced Monday that two of his predecessors, Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, will be declared saints in April.
The ceremony will take place on April 27, the day Catholics celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter and the feast day of Divine Mercy. The event will mark the first time two popes will be canonized at the same time.
John Paul II was very popular among the young during his papacy and is remembered for helping inspire opposition to communism in Eastern Europe. In 2005, shortly after the passing of John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI started the process to canonize his predecessor and omitted the usual five-year waiting period.
In order to be named a saint, a person needs to have lived a holy life and performed at least two miracles. John Paul II’s first miracle occurred when he cured Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, a French nun, of Parkinson’s disease months after his death. His second miracle occurred when a Costa Rican woman recovered from a brain aneurysm after praying for the intercession of John Paul II.
John XXIII, also known as “the good pope,” is remembered for replacing Latin in Catholic churches with a country’s native language. For him, there is only one official miracle, but Pope Francis decided it was not necessary for him to have a second miracle to become a saint. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi stated, “Despite the absence of a second miracle, it was the pope’s will that the sainthood of the great pope of the Second Vatican Council be recognized.”
It is very unusual that the Church will canonize the two popes together. Observers feel this decision is a way to help unify Catholics.
Also for the first time in history, two living popes will be attending the canonization ceremony: Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict.
