Soon to be a saint?

Vatican City--At the funeral of John Paul II, tens of thousands of mourners in St. Peter's Square chanted, "Santo subito"--meaning "Soon a saint!" On May 13, Pope Benedict launched the process of his beatification. Normally, these proceedings begin only five years after the death of the candidate; Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 and was beatified in 2003, is the only candidate for sainthood in modern times for whom the waiting period has been waived.

Two notable cures have already been linked to the deceased pope. In 2002, an American suffering from a brain tumour was cured after receiving Communion from the pope, and a Mexican teenager was cured of leukemia after dozens of doctors had abandoned hope for him. Also a nun in Colombia has said that she has been cured of an illness which affected her balance, through the intercession of the Holy Father. So far, none of these cures have been certified as miraculous. In general, miracles either before or after death must be attributed to a person for beatification; whereas canonization generally requires miracles be attributed to intercession of the person after death and beatification.

Archbishop Macharski, Karol Wojtyla's successor in the see of Cracow, said, "This was the first thing that sprang to people's minds" when John Paul died. "Pope Benedict XVI has heeded the wishes of the faithful."