Pope recalls John Paul on day he would have been 85

Pope Benedict XVI. Picture / Reuters

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict paid tribute to his predecessor yesterday, the day John Paul II would have marked his 85th birthday, and said he was sure the late Pope was watching over the Church from heaven.

"From on high he sees us and is with us," Benedict told a rain-drenched crowd in St Peter's Square for his weekly general audience.

"We want to say to the Lord a great thank you for the gift of this Pope, and thanks to the Pope himself for all he did and for all he suffered," Benedict said to applause from the crowd.

John Paul died on April 2 after leading the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 27 years. The final months of his life were marked by great suffering.

Benedict said last week he had put John Paul on the fast track towards eventual sainthood, responding to appeals by the faithful at his funeral and a petition from Roman Catholic cardinals.

The new Pope has allowed the beatification process for his predecessor to start immediately rather than having to wait five years after his death as Church rules demand.

Beatification is the first main step toward eventual sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. The late Pope can be beatified if a miracle can be attributed to his intercession with God on behalf of someone who has prayed to him.

Another miracle would be needed before John Paul could be declared a saint.

- REUTERS