The Vatican has released details of the second miracle that has been
attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II, paving the way for
his canonisation.
A Costa Rican woman, Floribeth Mora Diaz, who was cured of an
inoperable brain aneurysm said that she heard the voice of Pope John
Paul II at her bedside.
"I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, do not be afraid,'" Mrs Mora,
who is a 50-year-old mother, told Mexico's Televisa channel. A magazine
beside her bed had a photo of the late pope on the cover and she said
that with a gesture of the hand he invited her to get up.
Her doctor was unable to explain the recovery and the case was then
studied by the Vatican's Congregation for the Cause of Saints.
The cure took place on 1 May 2011, the same day that John Paul II was being beatified.
The Vatican said on Friday that Pope Francis had approved a second
miracle attributed to John Paul II, who was pope between 1978 and 2005.
It was also announced that John Paul XXIII, who was pope from 1958 to
1963, would be canonised without a second miracle.
The Holy See spokesman, Fr Federico Lombardi, said the canonisations would most likely take place by the end of the year.
Pope Francis also approved the beatification of Bishop Álvaro del
Portillo, the late prelate of Opus Dei, who died in 1994.
The bishop
succeeded St Josemaría Escrivá as head of Opus Dei.