Beatification of John Paul II on Sunday
Pope John Paul II is halfway through Sainthood. Mark the date — Feast of Divine Mercy, May 1, 2011 is the Beatification of John Paul II by his friend and successor, Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.
On April 2, 2005 at 9:37 p.m. Pope John Paul II died. In April of 2009 his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, told Pilgrims gathered in Rome “With you, I pray for the gift of beatification”. That prayer has been answered. Friday, January 14, 2011 the Holy See released the “Decree for the Beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II”. Sunday, January 16, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI, after praying the Angelus, announced “On 1 May I will have the joy of proclaiming the Venerable Pope John Paul II, my predecessor, as a blessed.
The choice of the Feast of Divine Mercy, May 1, 2011 for this beautification was intentionally chosen. Pope John Paul II had a deep devotion to his fellow Pole Sr. Faustina Kowalska and to the Divine Mercy devotion identified with her.
Video: