Soon after he died two years ago, Pope John Paul II was practically declared a saint by vox populi. Banners demanding "Santo Subito!" (sainthood now) crowned the crowds of people who filled St. Peter's Square to mourn the late pontiff.Today, on the second anniversary of his death, John Paul will take a significant step closer to likely sainthood.
Church officials were marking the anniversary with the conclusion of a detailed investigation into the Polish prelate's life. The Vatican also will begin evaluating the case of a French nun who said she was miraculously healed after praying to John Paul.
The nun, Marie Simon-Pierre, was to be among thousands of pilgrims who will attend elaborate ceremonies today, including a solemn Mass at St. Peter's to mark the late pope's passing. She says her Parkinson's disease, the same illness that afflicted John Paul, disappeared two months after he died. If a church committee agrees that a miracle occurred, then the late pope is eligible to be beatified, the final step before becoming a saint. A second miracle is required for sainthood.
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