This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/world/europe/francis-to-canonize-popes-john-xxiii-and-john-paul-ii-on-same-day.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Francis to Canonize John XXIII and John Paul II on Same Day Francis to Canonize John XXIII and John Paul II on Same Day
(35 minutes later)
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Monday set a date next year to declare the sainthood of two of his most influential predecessors on the same day in what was taken as a gesture designed to promote unity within the Roman Catholic Church.VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Monday set a date next year to declare the sainthood of two of his most influential predecessors on the same day in what was taken as a gesture designed to promote unity within the Roman Catholic Church.
The two popes — John Paul II and John XXIII — will be canonized on April 27, 2014, Francis said during a meeting with cardinals at the Vatican. Some Vatican analysts said the decision to canonize two popes simultaneously was highly unusual, if not unparalleled. The two popes — John Paul II and John XXIII — will be canonized on April 27, Francis said during a meeting with cardinals at the Vatican. Some Vatican analysts said the decision to canonize two popes simultaneously was highly unusual, if not unparalleled.
The pope announced in July that he would canonize the two men but did not set a date. Initially, there were indications that the two men, who both have disparate followings among reformers and conservatives within the church, would be canonized later this year. The pope announced in July that he would canonize the two men but did not set a date. Initially, there were indications that the two men, who have disparate followings among reformers and conservatives within the church, would be canonized later this year.
Both pontiffs achieved considerable international stature. John Paul II for encouraging the fall of communism in his native Poland and across Eastern Europe, and John XXIII for assembling the liberalizing Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Both pontiffs achieved considerable international stature: John Paul II for encouraging the fall of communism in his native Poland and across Eastern Europe, and John XXIII for assembling the liberalizing Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.
Unusually, Francis approved the canonization of John XXIII without a second miracle normally attributed to successful candidates for sainthood.Unusually, Francis approved the canonization of John XXIII without a second miracle normally attributed to successful candidates for sainthood.
The process leading to the canonization of John Paul II began almost immediately after his death in 2005. In a preliminary step, he was beatified in May 2011 after a Vatican committee credited him with interceding to cure a French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre Normand, of Parkinson’s disease. John Paul II suffered from the same disease.The process leading to the canonization of John Paul II began almost immediately after his death in 2005. In a preliminary step, he was beatified in May 2011 after a Vatican committee credited him with interceding to cure a French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre Normand, of Parkinson’s disease. John Paul II suffered from the same disease.
The second miracle attributed to John Paul II was said to be the healing of a woman who prayed to the pope on the day of his beatification.The second miracle attributed to John Paul II was said to be the healing of a woman who prayed to the pope on the day of his beatification.
In July, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Francis was eager to canonize John XXIII. “Despite the absence of a second miracle it was the pope’s will that the sainthood of the great pope of the Second Vatican Council be recognized,” he said. In July, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Francis was eager to canonize John XXIII. “Despite the absence of a second miracle, it was the pope’s will that the sainthood of the great pope of the Second Vatican Council be recognized,” he said.
At John Paul II’s beatification ceremony, which drew one and a half million people to Rome, Benedict lauded John Paul II as a central figure in the history of the 20th century and a hero of the church.At John Paul II’s beatification ceremony, which drew one and a half million people to Rome, Benedict lauded John Paul II as a central figure in the history of the 20th century and a hero of the church.
“He was witness to the tragic age of big ideologies, totalitarian regimes, and from their passing John Paul II embraced the harsh suffering, marked by tension and contradictions, of the transition of the modern age toward a new phase of history, showing constant concern that the human person be its protagonist,” Pope Benedict XVI, who was Francis’s immediate predecessor and is now known as the Pope Emeritus, said at the time. “He was witness to the tragic age of big ideologies, totalitarian regimes, and from their passing John Paul II embraced the harsh suffering, marked by tension and contradictions, of the transition of the modern age toward a new phase of history, showing constant concern that the human person be its protagonist,” Pope Benedict XVI, who was Francis’ immediate predecessor and is now known as the pope emeritus, said at the time.

Elisabetta Povoledo reported from Vatican City and Alan Cowell from London.

Elisabetta Povoledo reported from Vatican City and Alan Cowell from London.