John Paul II approved for sainthood

Vatican City, July 3 (IANS/AKI) Late pope John Paul II only needs Pope Francis's sign-off to become a saint later this year after a Vatican panel approved his second miracle.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints ruled that an "inexplicable recovery" May 1, 2011 of a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, from Parkinson's Disease was due to the late pope's intercession.

The commission of cardinals and bishops proposed a canonisation 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 canonised Dec 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.

Canonisation 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 authorise 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.

--IANS/AKI

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