Pope John Paul II a step closer to sainthood

FORMER Pope John Paul II will move a step closer to sainthood this week when his successor Pope Benedict approves the case for his beatification, Vatican sources said yesterday.

In “a few days” the Vatican’s Prefect for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, is expected to present Benedict with the evidence that John Paul performed a miracle and should be beatified, one source said.

At that point, Benedict is expected to approve the recommendation and set a date for the ceremony less than six years after the death of the Polish pontiff.