Cause for John Paul's Sainthood

From ZENIT News Agency--The World Seen from Rome:



"People long perceived the holiness of Pope John Paul II, but 'we must wait for the official declaration' by the Church in the cause of canonization, says a Vatican official.



Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, is happily surprised by the popular acclamation of John Paul II's sanctity, heard during the April 8 papal funeral with cries of 'santo subito' (sainthood now!).



But he explained: 'We must wait five years after his death, unless Pope Benedict XVI establishes a dispensation for the start of the process.'



'However,' the cardinal added, 'the dispensation does not affect the process as such, which doesn't change.' "