Wojtyla "instant saint" but along with John XXIII, the "Good Pope." This past Tuesday morning at the Vatican cardinals and bishops who are members of the “ordinary” Congregation of Saints, were meeting to examine various cases before the summer.
Among these, the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Paul II, the instantaneous healing of a woman.
The last crucial step before Francesco’s final seal of approval, which will lead to the canonization in record time, of the Polish Pontiff beatified two years ago.
But surprisingly, the cardinals and bishops will also discuss another subject, added in the last few days, the canonization of John XXIII, the Pope who convened the Second Vatican Council, who died fifty years ago in June and was beatified in 2000.
An unexpected turn of events, which attests to the desire to celebrate the two sanctifications together, bringing the halo and the universal worship to both the Pope of Bergamo, and Pope John Paul II.
The most likely date for the ceremony during which Roncalli and Wojtyla could be canonized is next December, immediately after the conclusion of the Year of Faith, given that the initial hypothesis of October seems less and less feasible due to time constraints and organizational problems.
Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, after the decision taken this morning, will meet Francesco and in the next few days the news of the two Popes Saints may be made permanently official.
It was John Paul II, in September 2000, during the Jubilee year, to proclaim John XXIII, Blessed, joining in the celebration was also the beatification of Pius IX, the last Pope king.
On that occasion, moving Roncalli up his first step to the altar, was the miracle of healing to Sister Caterina Capitani, which occurred in 1966.
As is well known according to the canonical norms for canonization it is necessary to recognise a second miracle that occurs after the beatification.
Over the last thirteen years there have been various reports of blessings and alleged miracles attributed to the intercession of Roncalli, but until recently it was not known that one of them had passed the scrutiny of medical consultations and theologians from the Vatican’s "factory of saints”.
It is therefore possible that they have decided to shorten the timeframe.
The Pope has the ability, if desired, to supersede the recognition of the miracle and proceed nonetheless with a canonization after having heard the advice of the cardinals in the congregation
It was 19:49 on the 3rd June 1963, when the crowd in St. Peter's Square, seeing the lights come on in the bedroom of the papal apartment, learned of the death of John XXIII.
In less than five years the elderly prelate from Bergamo, elected as a “transitional” Pope was just entering into the hearts of the world, for the simplicity of his actions and words.
The visits to the Regina Coeli prison and to the sick children of the Child Jesus Hospital, both in Rome and his visits to the parishes had made him very popular.
The historic decision to convene an ecumenical Council has changed the face of the Church, even if Roncalli would not have seen the end, being able to conclude only the first of the four sessions of the Council.
The suggestion by several bishops to proclaim John saint by acclamation was still open to the Council.
His successor, Paul VI, chose to follow the canonical route by opening a formal canonical process and wanted Roncalli to be alongside his predecessor Pius XII.