Benedict prays for John Paul’s beatification.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI marked the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II with a memorial Mass on Thursday and new prayers for the Polish pontiff’s beatification.
Later, Benedict descended to the grottos underneath St. Peter’s and knelt for a few minutes of silent prayer before his predecessor’s simple, marble tomb, decorated with a red rose. The pope sprinkled holy water in blessing before returning to the basilica upstairs and greeting some of the pilgrims.
The pope told Polish pilgrims on Wednesday he was praying for John Paul’s beatification, the first step to possible sainthood.
At first you might be thinking – what? Can’t Pope Benedict just declare Pope John Paul II a saint? What happened to Santo Subito?
And the answer is: that’s not how it works, even for Pope John Paul II, The Great.
His cause for canonization is proceeding like any other. So keep up the prayers!