Church places John Paul II on path to possible sainthood

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.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, John Paul’s long-time collaborator and his vicar for Rome, presided over the Latin-filled ritual at St John Lateran basilica.

During the ceremony, all the officials involved in the “cause” took an oath to keep their work secret and refrain from taking any gifts that might corrupt the process.