The New York Times reports: VATICAN CITY — Lauding John Paul II as a giant of 20th century history as well as a hero of the church, Pope Benedict XVI moved his towering predecessor one step closer to sainthood on Sunday in a celebratory Mass that drew more than a million people to Rome.

Full story here.

If you are visiting my site for the first time, my book gives a full, historical account of the canonization process from my own reporting at the Vatican, as well as Pope John Paul II’s role in changing the canonization process in the early 1980s, and how those church rules applied to my cousin, the saint — whom JPII beatified on May 4, 1997.

The blog Clerical Whispers reports: “The beatification of Pope John Paul II may be delayed as the Vatican seeks more documentation regarding his almost 27 years as pope, Italian newspapers reported in late May.”

An Italian web site reports: “Sophia Loren has lent her weight to the cause of Pope John Paul II reaching sainthood. The screen star has written to the Vatican official who is putting the case for the late pope’s beatification, one step from sainthood, Italian magazine Chi reports in an edition out Wednesday. ‘The memory of John Paul II is jealously guarded in my heart,’ says the 74-year-old screen icon. ‘It is a daily memory,’ she says, adding that she prayed at the pope’s tomb ‘to bear witness to my great admiration and devotion.'”

The whole story is here.

The question arises again and again — why this saint and not that one? When it comes to Oscar Romero and Dorothy Day, the debate seems perpetual. This blog picks up the argument, noting:

“Tonight we discussed both Oscar Romero and Dorothy Day, the process of canonization and whether or not they might be canonized. Is this what his life was for? What about Dorothy’s since she actively expressed distaste in the thought of her being a saint; yet she had an incredible devotion to some saints. She was quoted saying, “Don’t call me a saint; I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.” The process of canonization is costly and strange. Shouldn’t the money be given to the many Catholic Worker houses or to pacifist organizations?”

The whole post is here.