• Home page
  • News
  • The Catholic Church remembers John Paul II as a saint for the first time today...

The Catholic Church remembers John Paul II as a saint for the first time today

22.10.2014, 13:10
The Catholic Church remembers John Paul II as a saint for the first time today - фото 1
On October 22 Catholics commemorate Saint John Paul II (1920-2005), who had led the Catholic Church for 26 years and 5 months.

Іван-Павло-ІІ.jpgexklusiv.gifOn October 22 Catholics commemorate Saint John Paul II (1920-2005), who had led the Catholic Church for 26 years and 5 months.

John Paul II was the 264th bishop of Rome and the first Slavonic Pope. He was the first pope in history to visit Ukraine in 2001.

The Ukrainian visit of John Paul II was the 94th pastoral visit during his pontificate. In total Saint John Paul II made 104 trips in different continents and visited 129 countries. He celebrated the beatification of 1340 blessed, including 28 Ukrainian martyrs of the Soviet period, and canonized 483 saints. He appointed 231 Cardinals from all over the world. John Paul II met with more than 1600 heads of states and governments. He signed more than 100 official documents, including 14 encyclicals, 45 apostolic letters and the 14 apostolic appeals.

The process of beatification of John Paul II began shortly after his death. Despite the tradition of the Catholic Church, according to which the beatification process shall begin in at least 5 years after the death of a person, given the large-scale veneration of the person of John Paul II by the faithful, Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree to start the early beatification process. The beatification of John Paul II was held on May 1, 2011, after the special commission confirmed the healing of a nun from Parkinson's disease after she had prayed for intercession to John Paul II.

The process of canonization ended on July 2, 2013 and on April 27, 2014 Pope Francis solemnly proclaimed John Paul II a saint of the Catholic Church. On this day one of the predecessors of John Paul II – Pope John XXIII was also declared saint.