For Catholics, beatification is a wonderful part of their faith. For evangelicals, it is difficult to understand. Pope Benedict XVI has made a move to make the former Pope John Paul II one step closer to sainthood by setting a date for his beatification.
In an article in the New York Times about Pope John Paul II to be Beatified, it states,
Wildly popular, John Paul was seen as a man of his time, a Pole who marshaled the Catholic Church’s energies to help end the Cold War. But he was also criticized for how he handled a sex abuse crisis burgeoning in the United States as early as the 1980s.
At John Paul’s funeral in April 2005, the faithful filled Saint Peter’s Square crying “santo subito,” or “sainthood now.” Benedict honored their wishes, putting John Paul on a fast-track to sainthood, waiving the traditional five-year waiting period for the process to begin.”
So Pope John Paul is on the way to sainthood. No matter what religious tradition you come from, this Pope was truly a great man and a wonderful leader. He brought hope and light to the world. What are your opinions regarding his beatification?
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