Pope John Paul II nears sainthood, to be beatified on May 1
VATICAN CITY: John Paul II is on the fast track to sainthood and will be beatified on May 1, 2011, the Vatican said on Friday, after Pope Benedict XVI signed an official decree.
The beatification was given the nod by Benedict because of John Paul II's "imposing reputation for saintliness... in life, in death and after death," the Vatican said in a statement.
The process of beatifying a pope is usually lengthy, but calls for John Paul II to be canonised came immediately after his death in 2005.
The Vatican's decision to beatify the Polish-born pope was immediately celebrated in his home country.
Poland's Solidarity legend Lech Walesa said he was delighted that John Paul II, a key figure in the fall of communism in Europe, was being honoured in this way.
"A man who was a living saint will officially become a saint. Our Pope did great things," Walesa said. "It was the Polish pope and Solidarity that contributed to the disappearance of communism in Europe in the 20th Century," said Walesa' who was awarded the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize for his bloodless opposition to Poland's pro-Soviet communist regime.
But news of John Paul's beatification alarmed clerical abuse victims who say he did not do enough to combat abuse by priests during his pontificate.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests responded by calling on the church to "move cautiously" in honouring John Paul II. Snap's Barbara Dorrissaid little could be done by the Church to "erase the pain" of abuse victims.
The beatification was given the nod by Benedict because of John Paul II's "imposing reputation for saintliness... in life, in death and after death," the Vatican said in a statement.
The process of beatifying a pope is usually lengthy, but calls for John Paul II to be canonised came immediately after his death in 2005.
The Vatican's decision to beatify the Polish-born pope was immediately celebrated in his home country.
Poland's Solidarity legend Lech Walesa said he was delighted that John Paul II, a key figure in the fall of communism in Europe, was being honoured in this way.
"A man who was a living saint will officially become a saint. Our Pope did great things," Walesa said. "It was the Polish pope and Solidarity that contributed to the disappearance of communism in Europe in the 20th Century," said Walesa' who was awarded the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize for his bloodless opposition to Poland's pro-Soviet communist regime.
But news of John Paul's beatification alarmed clerical abuse victims who say he did not do enough to combat abuse by priests during his pontificate.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests responded by calling on the church to "move cautiously" in honouring John Paul II. Snap's Barbara Dorrissaid little could be done by the Church to "erase the pain" of abuse victims.
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