Rome diocese to launch John Paul beatification

VATICAN CITY - The Rome diocese will formally launch the beatification process for Pope John Paul on June 28, Rome Cardinal Camillo Ruini said today.

A prayer service will be held at St. John's Basilica to "officially open the beatification and sainthood cause of our beloved bishop and Pope John Paul," Ruini said at a conference on the family in the same cathedral.

Beatification places virtuous Roman Catholics halfway toward full sainthood.

The Rome diocese started the procedure for John Paul with an edict last month asking Catholics to come forward with evidence "in favor or against" his reputation of holiness.

John Paul died on April 2 and, under normal rules, the procedure should not have started until 2010, five years after the candidate's death.

However, Pope Benedict has dispensed with the rules to put his predecessor on the fast track to possible sainthood. John Paul did the same for Mother Teresa, whose progress toward sainthood began only two years after her death. She was beatified in 2003.

The quick start means John Paul could be beatified within a few years if a miracle can be attributed to his intercession. Another miracle would be necessary between beatification and eventual sainthood.

- REUTERS