The two popes whose canonizations
received final clearance July 5 "each had a profound impact on the
church and the world," as New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan put it.
Pope Francis signed a decree clearing the way for Blessed John Paul II
and Blessed John XXIII to be canonized, possibly later his year.
In a July 5 statement, Cardinal Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops, said: "I know that today's news has gladdened the
hearts of the faithful throughout the world, just as it did for me."
Blessed John, known most widely for having convened the Second Vatican
Council, will be canonized without having met the normal requirement of
having a second miracle attributed to his intercession.
The cardinals and archbishops who are members of the saints'
congregation met at the Vatican July 2 and voted in favor of the pope
recognizing as a miracle the healing of Floribeth Mora Diaz, a Costa
Rican who was suffering from a brain aneurysm and recovered after
prayers through the intercession of Blessed John Paul.
The congregation members, according to news reports, also evaluated the
cause of Blessed John and voted to ask Pope Francis to canonize him
without requiring a miracle. According to church rules -- established by
the pope and subject to changes by him -- a miracle is needed after
beatification to make a candidate eligible for canonization.
Cardinal Dolan said that by convening Vatican II, "Pope John XXIII
helped present the timeless teaching of Jesus and his church in the
modern age. And, Pope John Paul II helped to bring that teaching to
every corner of the globe, as a tireless missionary for the faith."
Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, noted that as director of the
1993 World Youth Day in Denver, he met with Pope John Paul II many
times.
"When Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, the cry immediately went
up from the crowd in St. Peter's Square of 'Santo Subito' -- 'Saint
Immediately!'" Archbishop Schnurr said in a statement.
"In addition to resolve, kindness, a sense of humor and many other fine
qualities, I observed in him that sanctity which the crowd proclaimed. I
am grateful that the church's careful process of canonization has
confirmed what we all felt in our hearts."
Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski said the news of the canonizations
while not unexpected "is nevertheless received with great joy."
Linking the announcement to the other major Vatican news of the day, the
publication of "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith"), the first
encyclical published under Pope Francis, which was begun by Pope
Benedict, Archbishop Wenski said the two future saints "were shining
witnesses to the 'lumen fidei,' the light of faith, in the second half
of the 20th century."
He said both popes "spoke frequently and urgently about the need for a
new evangelization directed towards those who once had received the
faith but now seem to be 'tired' of it. They will certainly be the
patron saints of the new evangelization that we -- disciples in faith
and missionaries of hope -- are called to announce to our contemporaries
in this 21st Century."
The Knights of Columbus in a statement said the Blessed John Paul II
Shrine in Washington would be offering a series of programs and events
to mark Blessed John Paul's canonization.
The shrine was established by the Knights at the former Pope John Paul
II Cultural Center, which the fraternal organization purchased in August
2011.
"John Paul II was a champion of the rights and dignity of every human
person, and his witness and legacy continue to speak important messages
to our world today. Similarly, his life of holiness and devotion to God
continue to be an example to us all," said Patrick Kelly, the shrine's
executive director.