THE Catholic Church placed Pope John Paul II on the path to possible sainthood yesterday during a solemn ceremony at a Roman basilica - the fastest start to a beatification process in memory for a man many considered a saint long before he died.

The process to beatify Pope John Paul II opens officially today with a solemn ceremony in which all the clerics involved will take an oath of secrecy – and promise not to be corrupted by taking any money or gifts that might sway their decisions.

THE so-called “devil’s advocate” in John Paul II’s beatification process, who must investigate any doubts about his saintliness, yesterday pledged to remain objective, but hinted he supported the cause.