Benedict And The Philosopher Pope

VATICAN CITY — The diocesan investigation into the life, virtues and fame of the sanctity of Pope John Paul II will be closed April 2, the second anniversary of the Holy Father’s death. All the documentation will then be transferred to Rome. The second and last phase of his cause will see various commissions determine when John Paul can be beatified. Some observers believe his beatification could take place as soon as next year. But speaking to reporters March 20, Msgr. Slawomir Oder, postulator of John Paul’s cause, said that it “is not possible to determine the date of his beatification, much less his canonization.”