Vatican City, Apr 10, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul II could be named a saint as early as October.
Archbishop Edward Nowak, the secretary for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that six months could be enough time to attribute two miracles to John Paul II, a requirement for canonization.
Despite reports of miracles carried out by John Paul II during his lifetime, only those occurring after his death would count toward his sainthood.
The Polish-born archbishop said the next Pope could choose to bypass the usual lengthy procedure, which dictates that the process for beatification begin only five years after a person’s death.