Pope Benedict XVI has approved a miracle attributed to the late Pope John Paul II and set May 1 2011 as the date for him to be beatified in Rome.
Pope Benedict XVI declared in a decree, issued today by the Vatican, that the cure of a French nun who suffered from Parkinson’s disease was miraculous, the last step needed for the beatification.
The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said: “I warmly welcome the news that Pope John Paul II is to be beatified. Pope John Paul II is held in great affection by Catholics and people of good will in England and Wales. So many people here remember with great affection his visit to us in 1982. We also thank God for the powerful witness of his life and teaching, as well as the astonishing example he gave in suffering and death. His heavenly intercession will be sought by many.”
John Paul died in 2005 after 26 years as Pope. A second miracle is needed for John Paul II to become a Saint.
