In the first consistory that he has convened, Pope Francis has announced that the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII will be held on Sunday, April 27th, 2014 in Rome.
During his return trip from World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, the Holy Father indicated Divine Mercy Sunday, which falls on the same day, as a possible date. The Pope stated that having the canonization in the winter would make it difficult for pilgrims with limited resources to attend. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, particularly from Poland are expected to attend the canonization.
Several months ago, the Holy Father paved the way for the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, authorizing the process without the need for a second miracle.
The first miracle attributed to John Paul II was the miraculous cure of a French nun who suffered from an irreversible and advanced form of Parkinson’s disease. The second miracle necessary for his canonization that was a approved was the healing of a Costa Rican woman who suffered from a brain aneurysm.
