Pope John Paul II to be Beatified

When Pope John Paul II passed away on April 2, 2005, those who attended his funeral came bearing signs that read “sainthood right now.” Now that the required five years have passed for canonization, the late Pope John Paul II will be beatified this spring, the Vatican announced Friday. The current pontiff, Benedict XVI, had already put his predecessor on the fast track to sainthood just weeks after his death, and now, the late pope will be one step away after the Vatican confirmed that John Paul had performed a miracle after his death, a prerequisite for beatification. A nun who suffered from Parkinson’s disease is said to have prayed to the pope after he died, curing her of her illness. The beatification will occur on May 1, the first Sunday after Easter, according to the Vatican, leaving just one more miracle required for sainthood.