On the ninth anniversary
Wednesday of the death of Pope John Paul II, the prelate who
announced his passing said his canonization in late April
confirms the holiness he exuded in life.
"The emotion was so great," recalls Cardinal Leonardo
Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
"We, faithful, who believe he was a saint since we knew
him, or those who proclaimed him 'santo subito' (saint now) in
St Peter's Square, now have the certainty from the authority of
the Church," Sandri said in an interview with Vatican radio.
"This man is a saint and is therefore close to God...He
already sees (the Lord) and this is guaranteed to us by the
Supreme Pontiff of the Church, who is Pope Francis," Sandri
said.
He recalled John Paul II's "deep humanity", which may have
been formed through the suffering, persecution, and losses he
endured during Karol Wojtyla's youth and later, his work as a
priest in his native Poland.
"This humanity was crowned by God with the gifts of the
Holy Spirit," said Sandri, who nine years ago was working in the
office of the Vatican's secretary of state.
Pope Francis will canonize both John Paul II and Pope John
XXIII in a ceremony in St. Peter's Square on April 27.
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