Pope Benedict XVI said today he had opened the process for the sainthood of John Paul II.
In doing so, he is overriding the usual five-year waiting period following the death of a possible candidate. The Pope made his announcement in Latin during a meeting at the Basilica of St John Lateran with the Roman clergy.
Immediately following Pope John Paul's death on April 2nd, there were calls from the faithful for his sainthood.
At his funeral Mass pilgrims held up banners saying "Santo Subito" ("Immediate Sainthood").
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The announcement came on the anniversary of an 1981 assassination attempt against John Paul in St Peter's Square at the hands of a Turkish gunman.
Pope Benedict's announcement drew a standing ovation from the Roman priests.
AP