The universal consensus and millions of people at his funeral shouting “Saint now” are not enough to canonize John Paul II.

The life and virtues of Karol Wojtyla have been subject to rigorous scrutiny, like any other candidate for sainthood.  Just two years after his death, John Paul II is getting closer to sainthood.  The Pope needs one more thing before signing off on his beatification: the proof of a miracle.The Vatican tribunal in charge of the first phase of beatification says the cure of a French nun from Parkinson’s disease could be attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II.
 
Msgr. Slawomir Oder
Postulator of John Paul II’s Cause
After Mass, everyone present saw it clearly.  The nun who was very sick and could hardly move suddenly was able to move her hands.

This is the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Vatican office which processed the cases of 1,812 saints and blesseds declared by John Paul II.  Now they’re studying his case.

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins
Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
This congregation will study all the documents collected at the diocesan phase.  Different offices from the dicastery will then intervene.  We have a group of theologians, a historical commission, medical consultants when it comes to examining the supposed miracles.

The only exception applied to John Paul II’s cause was waiving the five-year waiting period. Benedict XVI announced the opening of the cause only three months after his predecessor’s death. I waived the five year waiting period after the death of Servant of God Pope John Paul II.

More than 1,000 documents on the life and miracles of John Paul II will begin to pour in to the Congregation for Saints, and theologians and cardinals will study them.

John Paul II, one of greatest men in history, is being put to the Vatican’s test, like any aspiring saint.