Clerics begin moves to beatify late Pope

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.

Yet even before the cause opened, it seemed that virtually everyone involved was in favour – including the official whose job it is to play “devil’s advocate”, or to investigate any doubts about the late Pope’s saintliness.