Canonizing John Paul II

Apart from the fact that we are all called to be saints and that canonization merely recognizes officially that the subject has heroically fulfilled his responsibilities in the role to which God has called him, the process of canonization is primarily intended to present the subject as one worthy of emulation by the faithful. The Vatican has announced that Pope John Paul II will be beatified (the first step to canonization) in the near future, probably on May 1st.

Several questions arise about the whole process which has been fast-tracked by dispensing with the traditional delay of several years before beginning the investigation of the candidate’s life and