alright, so i'm not catholic, but I though one of the whole things about becoming a saint was that three miracles must be performed, one happening upon their death. or something.

Also, they must have been dead for like 5 years or so before they can be declared a saint. So how is John Paul already underway to becoming one? I mean, he was a pretty good pope, and i'm sure a standup guy, but seriously? That's doing his job that he was appointed for. I don't mean to undermine his stature (too much), but I mean one of the coolest things about Catholicism to me is all that wacky shit you guys got goin' on like the thousands of saints and whatnot. relics? awesome. transubstantiation? cool. But I was alive through most of this guy's shift. Unless he could turn invisible or fly or something i never really saw or heard anything that I could classify as a miracle. Impressive, maybe, but come on.

Is one of his miracles keeping the whole touchy-touchy thing under wraps for so long? Was getting shot one? Please explain this to me.

I guess people just loved the dude and feel he was great..Also the new pope wants to get off on the right foot so he's all for pushing this stuff through really quick to give the people what they want...I was raised catholic and did 12years in catholic school...Sacraments...The whole 9...But to me it's so much a business it just turns me off to the whole thing......

"and i heard one of his miracles was a card trick"

I'm catholic, and know a good bit about the religion. However this is one thing I'm not really sure about. My best guess is it's a process and there is no guarantee that once the process starts that he'll be a saint in the end. Also I don't think miracle is a very strict defintion in the process.

Didn't JP2 get buckwild and cannonize a shitton of people?

beatification

(Latin: beatus, blessed; facere, to make) The declaration by the pope as head of the Church that one of its members deserves for saintly life as confessor or heroic death as martyr, to be entitled Blessed, that is, regarded as dwelling in the happiness of heaven. The declaration is preceded by a double process, the first consisting of an examination into the life, virtues, writings, and reputation for holiness, or martyrdom, of the Servant of God in question, conducted ordinarily by the bishop of the place in which he or she died or lived a long time. In the case of a martyr no miracles are required in this first process, but they are required for others.


Not sure what JP's miracle was supposed to be.

And yes, he canonized more people than any other pope.

I think a woman in South America (Colombia, maybe?) claims he healed her of some illness.

penicillin?