Santo Subito!

On the twenty-fourth anniversary of the attempted assasination of Pope John Paul II, the late pope’s successor Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will be waiving the five-year waiting period required before a cause for canonization can be opened for John Paul II:

"The pope’s decision to authorize the start of the process for sainthood for Pope John Paul II overrode the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a candidate before beatification procedures can begin. The only other time the waiting period was waived was for Mother Teresa. The process was begun a year after her death.

"Benedict made the announcement in Latin during a meeting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran with the Roman clergy. Friday is the anniversary of an 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul in St. Peter’s Square at the hands of a Turkish gunman.

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"Benedict’s announcement drew a standing ovation from the Roman priests.

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"Benedict, who had been seated, stood up to join the clergy in applauding the major tribute to his predecessor."

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Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live." View all posts by Jimmy Akin