John Paul II can be canonized

Vatican sources reported that after the Theological Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved the second miracle from former Pope John Paul II, it has accelerated the path to the canonization of the first Polish Pope, Karol Wojtyla.

After being beatified on May 1, 2011 by the then Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul II would be the next to get to the altar, but not before the approval of the Commission of Cardinals and Pope Francisco’s final approval.

For a person to be beatified there needs to be produced  a miracle by his intercession, and to be canonized there should be given a second miracle. That second miracle must occur after being beatified.

The Vatican rules state that once the medical commission gives its approval, the miracle will be reviewed by a group of theologians. If it is approved, then is passed to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Then is presented to the Pope for approval and thereafter the canonization can take place.

John Paul II was pope from 1978 to 2005 and is regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century.