"A French nun's recovery from Parkinson's disease was miraculous"
VATICAN CITY: The Pope on Friday signed off on the miracle needed for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, and set May 1 as the date to honour one of the most beloved Popes of all times as a model of saintliness for the church.
Pope Benedict XVI said in a decree that a French nun's recovery from the Parkinson's disease was miraculous, the last step needed for beatification. A second miracle is needed for the Polish-born John Paul II to be made a saint.
The May 1 beatification, which Pope Benedict XVI himself will celebrate, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Rome.
Once he is beatified, John Paul II will be given the title "blessed" and can be publicly venerated. Many people, especially in Poland, already venerate him privately, but the ceremony will make it official.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul II's long-time secretary and friend, expressed "huge thanks" to Pope Benedict XVI for the decree. "We are happy today," he said.
Pope Benedict XVI put John Paul II on the fast track to possible sainthood just weeks after he died in 2005, responding to the chants of "SantoSubitol!" or "Sainthood immediately!" that erupted during his funeral.
Not to leave doubts
Pope Benedict XVI waived the typical five-year waiting period before the process could begin, but he insisted that the investigation into John Paul's life be thorough so as to not leave any doubts about his virtues.
The last remaining hurdle concerned the approval by Vatican-appointed panels of doctors and theologians, cardinals and bishops that the cure of French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, was a miracle due to the intercession of John Paul II.
Born in Wadowice, Poland, in 1920, Karol Wojtyla was the youngest Pope in 125 years and the first non-Italian in 455 years when he was elected Pope in 1978.
He brought a new vitality to the Vatican, and quickly became the most accessible modern pope, sitting down for meals with factory workers, skiing and wading into crowds to embrace the faithful.
He was the most travelled Pope ever, visiting more than 120 nations during the third-longest papacy and covering distance equal to nearly 11/2 trips to the moon.
He survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter's Square in 1981 — and then forgave the Turk who had shot him.
He died in his Vatican apartment on April 2,2005 after suffering for years from the effects of the Parkinson's disease. He was 84.
PRAYER FOR ASKING GRACES THROUGH THE INTERCESSION
OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
THE POPE JOHN PAUL II
O Blessed Trinity
We thank You for having graced the Church
with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care,
the glory of the cross of Christ,
and the splendor of the Holy Spirit,
to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
and has shown us that holiness
is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will,
the graces we implore,
hoping that he will soon be numbered
among your saints.
Amen.
With ecclesiastical approval
CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI
the Holy Father’s Vicar General
for the Diocese of Rome
CONTACTS
It's possible dirictly communicate with Monsignor Oder, Postulator of the Cause, via ordinary mail or via e-mail:
Mons. Slawomir Oder
Vicariato di Roma
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 6/A
00184 ROMA
