Chicago celebrates two popes proclaimed as saints - tribunedigital-chicagotribune Chicago celebrates two popes proclaimed as saints April 27, 2014|By Stephanie Baer and Meredith Rodriguez | Tribune reporters Worshippers at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Chicago honored their Polish pope, Pope John Paul II in a morning mass and then a procession that started west on Division Street to St. Hyacinth Basilica Sunday April 27, 2014. B583686188Z.1 (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) ct ....OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT, NO DIGITAL MANIPULATION... (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) A Sunday evening Mass at Holy Name Cathedral capped roughly 24 hours of celebration across the Chicago Archdiocese over the historic elevation of two popes to sainthood. Unable to travel to Rome for the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, Cardinal Francis George said after the service that the pontiffs set an example that can be followed by anyone.

“It doesn't mean that they didn't make mistakes from time to time,” said George, who recently received his third and final dose of chemotherapy after getting a cancer diagnosis last month. “They were quite human, but it meant that consistently they lived with God. And he made them holy. He made them his friends, so that vocation is open to all of us.” The Sunday evening worship service was part of a larger celebration across the archdiocese that started Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday, when about 500 parishioners at St. Hyacinth Basilica gathered at 3 a.m. to watch a live broadcast of the ceremonies in St. Peter's Square. Banners with portraits of the two new saints were displayed on opposite sides of the altar in the Logan Square church. When Pope Francis announced the two saints for the first time, everyone gathered in the church clapped. “It was exactly like in St. Peter's,” said the Rev. Stan Jankowski, senior pastor at St. Hyacinth, who led a 6 a.m. Polish language Mass following the ceremonies.

“The people reacted the same in the church.” A few hours later, hundreds moved from Holy Trinity Church at 1118 N. Noble St. to St. Hyacinth Basilica at 3636 W. Wolfram St. for a second service in Polish, St. John Paul II's native language. Parishioners there said they marched to honor the new saints, with many carrying the flag of Vatican City and that of Poland. Jim Nieds, 71, of Chicago, who had attended the early morning Mass at St. Hyacinth, said St. John XXIII helped to make Mass more accessible by calling the Second Vatican Council, which allowed Mass to be celebrated in local languages instead of Latin. “John XXIII did a tremendous amount to change the church and help it become more relevant,” Nieds said. At St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston, the Rev. Greg Sakowicz, pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church in Evanston, called Pope John XXIII “a visionary … who led a very simple life.” “There was a holiness about him and a marvelous sense of humor,” said Sakowicz.

What was considered a historic moment in the Catholic Church was a personal one for many Polish parishioners in the Chicago area, who expressed a sense of pride about the sainthood of John Paul II. “I'm really happy about it because he's Polish and I'm Polish and I'm proud,” said Katarina Maminska, 38, of Franklin Park. “He deserves to be a saint for all he did in his life and when he was pope.” Jankowski, a native of Poland, was just 12 years old when John Paul II became pope. “John Paul was an inspiration for my life and also for my priesthood,” he said. “It's a blessed time.” Hundreds of Chicagoans got closer to Sunday's historic event by actually attending the canonization. Caroline Mazurk, a Loyola student studying in Rome this semester, arrived in St. Peter's Square at 4:30 a.m. with her mother, who had flown in from Chicago to join her. “Quite honestly, up until the prayers started on the piazza, I was very tired and very cold and don't think I was feeling as grateful as I should've been being there,” Mazurk, 20, said.

“(But) seeing how many people there were, that's when it hit me that I'm experiencing something that's made history.” Nicole Gomez, 27, has friends who were celebrating in Rome but was grateful for her own experience in Chicago, at Holy Name. Pope John Paul's work with young people, she said, inspires her work as a high school English teacher in Englewood. “I think that's so important because so few people in our city invest in young people today,” Gomez said. “How many people in this city care about the education system today? How many care that our churches are becoming less and less full of young people? That's a problem, and John Paul II, he was one of the first people to really recognize that." As two more popes are canonized, a question emerges: How miraculous should saints be? - The Washington Post As two more popes are canonized, a question emerges: How miraculous should saints be? The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set!

By Anthony Faiola By Anthony Faiola April 25, 2014 Follow @Anthony_Faiola VATICAN CITY — Catholic saints are said to be the stuff of miracles, celestial servants who bend God’s ear to aid the desperately ill. But Pope Francis may be sending a new message to the globe’s roughly 1 billion Catholics. In the 21st century, maybe saints can be a little less miraculous. On Sunday, hordes of pilgrims will mass in St. Peter’s Square and in front of big screens erected across Rome for the canonizations of John Paul II and John XXIII. The crowds, along with a global audience, will watch as two popes are jointly proclaimed saints for the first time in the 2,000-year history of the church. But is the bar being lowered for sainthood? The path to sainthood for John Paul II was the fastest in modern history, raising eyebrows among traditionalists for packing a painstaking process that can sometimes take centuries into nine incredibly short years. In the case of John XXIII, Francis took what sticklers decry as an even more radical move.

He took the unusual step of dispensing with the Vatican’s modern requirement for two vetted and verified miracles to become a saint, elevating him based on a single 1966 case of a nun allegedly cured of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging after appeals to the man known across Italy as “the Good Pope.” 1 of 39 Historic sainthood ceremony for John Paul II, John XXIII View Photos Pope Francis, with assistance from retired pontiff Benedict XVI, will lead an unprecedented sainthood ceremony for John Paul II and John XXIII on Sunday in Vatican City that will see two living popes canonizing two of their predecessors. About 1 million pilgrims are expected at the event. Caption Pope Francis, with assistance from retired pontiff Benedict XVI, led an unprecedented sainthood ceremony for John Paul II and John XXIII on Sunday in Vatican City that saw two living popes canonizing two of their predecessors. April 27, 2014 Pope Francis stands on the popemobile surrounded by bodyguards as he waves to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Such moves by popes are not unprecedented, and John Paul II was particularly known as a saint-making machine willing to bend the rules. But in only 13 months, Francis has already exercised his right to “equipollent canonization” — a papal prerogative to fast-track saints by requiring fewer proven miracles — more times than any other pontiff since Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903. In three cases, Francis elevated saints without a single confirmed miracle under their virtuous belts. Francis has yet to spell out his rationale, and in the benevolent dictatorship that is Vatican City, it is not in the nature of clerics to demand explanations from a reigning pope. But for better or worse, Francis’s tendency to bypass the normal channels for certifying miracles is generating friction inside the ancient Vatican walls even as it reignites an age-old debate over the nature of Catholic saints. Some hope that the reforming new pope is moving to modernize the image of saints. The time has come, they say, to shift the emphasis from the mystical nature of saints toward their status as role models.

Still others are pressing for a new definition of miracles in the Internet age, embracing not just vanished tumors and healed aneurysms but also drug addicts who quit and divorced couples reunited after praying to prospective saints. “I know the Holy Father well enough to know that he believes in miracles, as we all do, but the question is simply and purely, should we require the confirmation of miracles for saints?” asked the Rev. Peter Gumpel, a senior Vatican figure and church historian. One camp in the church is all in favor of lowering the bar. Such a move could open the door to more and faster-made saints, who tend to serve as public relations dynamos for the faith in their countries of origin — a fact seen as a huge bonus as the Vatican casts its eye on fast growth in Africa and Asia. It could also pave the way to the quicker elevation of potential blockbuster saints such as Mother Teresa, whose first miracle, recognized by the Vatican in 2002, has been challenged by doctors and who is still waiting for confirmation of a second. The proclamation of saints “helps strengthen the faith of the people,” said the Rev.

Slawomir Oder, the Polish monsignor who presented John Paul II’s case for sainthood to Vatican judges. Yet just as in other areas where the new pope is upending conventions, Francis’s actions are touching a raw nerve with traditionalists. Find out if you're on the road to canonization. The belief that Catholics can directly pray to saints to intercede with God on their behalf remains a fundamental division between them and many Protestants. If more saints are created without vetted miracles, critics argue that the glow of the faith could fade for millions of Catholics who turn to saints in times of need. “Francis has caused some apprehension among the Vatican saint-makers, who see the pope waving his hand and saying we don’t need to follow these rules as much,” said John Thavis, author of “The Vatican Diaries.” “They are saying, ‘We need to be very careful about how we do this.’ ” Processes of canonization The dozens of Vatican lawyers, medical experts and theologians involved in the minting of saints consider the process both art and science. In the old days, claims of incorruptible bodies and sweet fragrances emitting from graves were hailed as miraculous signs of saints.

Today, the church largely relies on medical cures, seen as miracles only when they are instantaneous, lasting and clearly attributable to divine intervention. Candidates are generally identified and forwarded to the Vatican from the diocese where they died, with postulators in Rome compiling reports to submit to a department affectionately known as the “ministry of saints” for review. Worthy candidates who meet the criteria are then sent to the pope, who officially deems them “venerable.” But most can be named saints only after the identification and vetting of miracles. Such claims are verified through exhaustive, if secretive, reviews of documentation including witness testimony and, if available, medical tests. In most cases, one miracle qualifies a candidate for the intermediate step of beatification, while two are required for outright sainthood. Martyrs — or those who died in the name of the church — only need one miracle on their rise to sainthood. Advanced medical technology might seem to explain away most seemingly miraculous phenomenon. But Vatican experts involved in the process insist just the opposite.

They cite, for example, the before and after brain scans of Floribeth Mora Diaz — a Costa Rican woman who said she was cured of an aneurysm in 2011 after praying to John Paul II — as the kind of open-and-shut case made possible only by grace of modern science. Describing her ordeal this week in Rome, Mora, 50, said her aneurysm abruptly disappeared after she watched John Paul II’s beatification on television and prayed for his aid. “I heard a voice saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid,’ ” she said, her voice trembling. “I knew that I was not alone.” Yet critics who believe in the mystical abilities of saints argue that when a pope pushes them through without the requisite number of miracles, their powers to intercede with God become more assumed than established. The Rev. Marc Lindeijer, a senior church official in Rome who compiles ­cases and serves as an advocate for prospective saints, compared elevating saints without vetted miracles to allowing “everyone to be a major league baseball player.” “I believe in quality rather than quantity,” Lindeijer said.

He later added, “Even if you are the president of the United States or Bill Gates, you can’t buy a miracle. Miracles are a great protection of justice, a sign of approval from God.” Changes in the rules Yet other observers say Francis, like many before him, is simply cherry-picking favorites, fast-tracking select candidates to save them from a Vatican bureaucracy with a backlog of thousands. Indeed, in many ways, Francis is continuing the legacy of John Paul II, who changed the rules in 1983 to require fewer proven miracles and ended up proclaiming 482 saints — more than in the previous 600 years combined. Francis also appears to be making a statement by canonizing a conservative pope and a liberal pope together. While Francis did not start the process for either pope, it was up to him to decide whether to proclaim them saints now. Roughly three out of every 10 popes have become saints, the majority from the first centuries of the church’s founding.

But the drive to elevate popes has accelerated in recent decades, and pressure to canonize John Paul II began at his funeral in 2005 when distraught mourners cried out “Santo subito” — or “sainthood now.” For all his rock-star status as the first truly global pope, John Paul II also became known for his staunch opposition to birth control and divorce, as well as demands for clerics to show strict obedience to the Vatican. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a fellow conservative and longtime confidant of John Paul II, championed his cause by dropping the traditional five-year waiting period to begin the process of sainthood. Though opponents have charged John Paul II with turning a blind eye to widespread reports of sexual abuse within the church, the pressure to canonize him was so great that insiders say it would have been next to impossible for Francis to avoid it. Yet Francis appears to be balancing the statement made by rapidly anointing John Paul II by also fast-tracking John XXIII.

A jolly, roly-poly pontiff known across Italy as “the Good Pope,” John XXIII set in motion the Vatican II Council, credited by liberals with softening church doctrine and moving away from Masses once said only in lofty Latin. In fact, in Francis, many observers see a leader very much like John XXIII. “Look, if you can’t break a few rules, what’s the point of being pope?” said the Rev. Thomas Reese, author of “Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church.” Stefano Pitrelli contributed to this report. world Popes John XXIII, John Paul II made into saints | New York Post Popes John XXIII, John Paul II made into saints Popes John Paul II, left, and John XXIII will be declared saints on April 27, 2014. EPA/AP More On: Today, the 2,000-year-old Roman Catholic Church makes history: For the first time, two popes will be made saints at once, and two popes will be in attendance .

Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, and Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, were fast-tracked for sainthood by Pope Francis. Among the faithful, it’s an eagerly anticipated moment. More than 3 million people were expected to descend on the Vatican for the ceremony, which began at 3:30 a.m. EST. “You’ve got a good chunk of humanity who can remember vividly these two men,” New York’s Timothy Cardinal Dolan told CBS radio last week, before heading to Rome. The New York archbishop pointed out that, historically, the canonization process takes so long that saints become “museum pieces” — holy relics that seem all too distant to mere mortals. “This is going to be a very vivid way to say that holiness, heroic sanctity, the pursuit of virtue is for today,” said Dolan, leader of the New York Archdiocese. “These are two men, both of whom would say, ‘There’s nothing saintly about me. I’m a sinner. I need God’s grace and mercy.’” Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the canonization mass.

Getty Images Popes John XXIII, John Paul II made into saints April 27, 2014 Pope John Paul II John Paul II is perhaps the most beloved pontiff of modern times. He helped to bring about the downfall of the Soviet Bloc and sought to unite all people of faith — Muslims, Jews and other Christians. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and, two years later, visited the shooter, Mehmet Ali Agğca, in jail, where they talked for nearly half an hour, and the pope forgave him. Pope John Paul IIAP “What we talked about will have to remain a secret between him and me,” the Polish-born pontiff said. “I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.” John Paul II served as pope for almost 27 years, the second-longest papal tenure ever. His funeral was the largest in history, with more than 4 million mourners and 79 heads of state. The crowd chanted, “Santo subito!” — “Saint now!” The church listened. Before becoming a saint, one must be beatified, and that process normally cannot begin until five years after death.

Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul’s successor who will be present today, waived that rule and began beatification May 9, 2005 — one month after the funeral. Beatification requires proof of one miracle. Canonization, or sainthood, requires two. In 2006, a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, came forward. She claimed John Paul II cured her of Parkinson’s, which she’d been diagnosed with in 2001. She said that as her disease worsened in 2005, she and her fellow nuns prayed to the Holy Father, and her symptoms disappeared. Medical experts submitted their findings to the Vatican in October 2010, four years after Simon-Pierre submitted her own written testimony, which reads, in part: “On June 1, I was finished; I struggled to stand and to walk. On June 2 in the afternoon, I went to find my superior to ask her if I could leave my work. She encouraged me to endure a bit longer . . . Then, Mother Superior gave me a pen and told me to write: ‘John Paul II.’ It was 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

With effort, I wrote: ‘John Paul II.’ We remained in silence . . . “On June 7, as planned, I went to my neurologist, my doctor for the past four years. He was . . . surprised to see the disappearance of all the symptoms of the disease, despite my having interrupted the treatment [a daily anti-hypertension pill] five days earlier . . . the entire congregation began a thanksgiving novena to John Paul II.” The second miracle is attributed to the case of a Floribeth Mora Diaz, a Costa Rican woman who claims John Paul II cured her of a deadly brain aneurysm. After suffering incessant vomiting, numbness in her leg and excruciating headaches, the mother of four went to the emergency room on April 13, 2011. Her husband took her to the best hospital in the city, La Catolica in San José. There, she was treated by a young neurologist, Alejandro Vargas Roman, who prays before every operation. He diagnosed her with an aneurysm and told her she’d need to travel to the United States or Mexico for the surgery. She and her husband couldn’t afford it.

She says she was given a month to live. Then, on the day of John Paul’s beatification, she says, she prayed to him. That morning, “I looked at the magazine cover which showed Pope [John Paul] with his arms outstretched,” Mora said at a press conference in Vatican City on Thursday. “I felt a deep sense of healing. I heard his voice say to me, ‘Get up and don’t be afraid.’ I went to my husband and told him I was cured. I realized little by little the illness had been taken away.” Last October, the church flew her to Rome, where she submitted to two weeks of medical tests. Her neurosurgeon testified. “If I cannot explain it from a medical standpoint, something nonmedical happened,” he said. “I can believe it was a miracle.” Pope John XXIII Known as “The Good Pope,” John XXIII was born in a small Italian village on Nov. 25, 1881. He became a Franciscan priest in 1897 and, although descended from nobles, was a lifelong advocate for the equality of all.

Pope John XXIII in 1962 in Orte, Italy.AP In World War II, he was appointed apostolic nuncio to France, and his efforts to save Jewish refugees and concentration-camp prisoners are well documented. In 1958, he was elected pope. In 1962, he called the Second Vatican Council, which resulted in significant changes to Catholic doctrine, including the church’s admission that Catholicism was not the only religion to offer salvation. He modernized the church, allowing Mass to be held in languages other than Latin, and he named the first black, Japanese and Filipino cardinals. The Good Pope died of cancer on June 3, 1963. He was 81. It was John Paul II who, in September 2000, beatified John XXIII. The miracle he performed — curing a dying nun — is said to have taken place after his death, in 1966. At age 23, an Italian nun, Sister Caterina Capitani, lay dying. Capitani passed away in 2010, but Sister Adele Labianca, director of the hospital that treated her, spoke last week.

In the spring of 1966, “doctors had discovered a gastric hemorrhage, and she underwent 14 operations,” Labianca told Vatican Insider. By May, Capitani was on the verge of death. A member of her order, the Daughters of Charity, took a relic from John XXIII and laid it on her abdomen. Labianca says Capitani told her she had a vision three days later. “I saw Pope John standing next to the bed in papal vestments,” Capitani said. “I gazed at his beautiful and smiling face, and he said to me: ‘You have prayed to me a great deal, and so have many other nuns . . . Everything’s over now. You are well.’ ” As the church investigated, Labianca testified that Capitani’s wound vanished. Her specialist, Dr. Giuseppe Zannini, could not explain it. Labianca quotes him as saying, “This nun is a strange case, for better or worse.” John XXIII’s case is strange, too. It’s extremely rare for anyone credited with just one miracle to be sainted.

John Paul II helped clear the path in 1983 when he eradicated the Vatican’s office of skeptics, known as “the Devil’s Advocate.” He later fast-tracked Mother Teresa’s beatification, setting the stage for his own rapid canonization. But it was John XXIII himself who last broke with tradition. In 1960, he canonized the 17th-century Venetian cardinal, Gregorio Barbarigo, who had only one miracle to his credit. John XXIII was believed to have had an affinity for the cardinal, another reformer and a humble man who ministered to victims of the plague. In canonizing a man he so admired, Pope John applied the personal philosophy he brought to his entire papacy. “See everything,” he once said, “overlook a great deal, correct a little.” Vatican declares Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints - BBC News BBC News Vatican declares Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints 27 April 2014 Close share panel Media captionPope Francis declares John Paul II and John XXIII as new saints Pope Francis has declared Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints, in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands.

He praised his two predecessors as "men of courage" at the Vatican service, the first time in history that two popes have been canonised at the same time. The Mass was attended by Pope Emeritus Benedict, who quit as pope last year, and roughly 100 foreign delegations. Analysts say Francis is trying to balance the conservative legacy of John Paul with the reforming zeal of John. Analysis By Alan Johnston BBC News, Rome The ancient rite of canonisation unfolded under grey skies in a packed St Peter's Square. In keeping with tradition, Pope Francis, was approached and requested to add his two predecessors to the long list of Catholic saints. And at the third time of asking, he granted that request. Then ornate, silver containers holding holy relics of new saints were shown: a trace of blood from John Paul II, and sliver of skin taken from the body of John XXlll. Both men were hugely influential figures in the story of modern Catholicism. The Italian Pontiff, John XXlll, is seen very much as a liberal, reforming figure. The Polish Pope, John Paul, on the other hand, was much more conservative.

And their elevation to the sainthood on the same day is being seen as an attempt to draw together the liberal and the more traditional wings of the Church. At the climax of the service, Pope Francis said in Latin: "We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church." Relics of each man - a container of blood from John Paul and a piece of skin from John - were placed near the altar. Pope Francis paid tribute to the two new saints as "priests, bishops and popes of the 20th Century". "They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful," he said. The Vatican estimated some 800,000 pilgrims had poured into Rome to see the two-hour ceremony first-hand. For those unable to make it into St Peter's Square, giant screens were set up in nearby streets and elsewhere in the city.

"Four popes in one ceremony is a fantastic thing to see and to be at, because it is history being written in our sight," said Polish pilgrim Dawid Halfar. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Giant portraits of the two popes flanked Francis as he celebrated Mass Image copyright Reuters Image caption Pope Francis greeted crowds from the "popemobile" after the ceremony Image copyright AFP Image caption Notable guests include Floribeth Mora, who claims John Paul II cured her of a serious brain condition The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that 87-year-old Benedict XVI - now officially titled Pope Emeritus - would make a rare public appearance alongside his successor. "We've been counting down the days. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience Polish pilgrim in Rome Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign for 600 years when he quit for health reasons a year ago. Papal politics The process of saint-making is usually long and very costly.

Media captionThe BBC's Robert Pigott in the crowd: "This has been a majestic, a solemn and a moving ceremony" Media captionCormac Murphy-O'Connor talks about Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II But John Paul II, whose 26-year reign ended in 2005, has been fast-tracked to sainthood in just nine years. Many among the huge crowds that gathered as he lay dying cried out "santo subito", which means "sainthood now". By contrast Italian-born John XXIII, known as the Good Pope after his 1958-63 papacy, had his promotion to full sainthood decided suddenly and very recently by Pope Francis. The BBC's David Willey in Rome says there was a political dimension to this. By canonising both John XXIII - the pope who set off the reform movement - and John Paul II - the pope who applied the brakes - Francis has skilfully deflected any possible criticism that he could be taking sides. Sainthood for John Paul II, John XXIII in canonization ceremony - CNN.com Story highlights Estimated 800,000 watch ceremony in St.

Peter's area, 500,000 more around Rome Pope Francis hails John XXIII and John Paul II as "men of courage" in his homily "They were priests, bishops and popes of the 20th century," Francis says The presence of two living popes for a canonization ceremony is historic John XXIII and John Paul II were canonized Sunday by Pope Francis in an unprecedented ceremony witnessed by huge crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Millions more around the world watched as two former pontiffs were for the first time installed as saints in a dual canonization. The faithful and the curious packed the streets of Rome around the Vatican before dawn, hoping to gain entry to St. Peter's Square and catch a direct glimpse of church history in the making. Vatican Radio put the crowds at some 800,000 in the St. Peter's area, including the square and the roads and gardens around it. Another 500,000 followed the proceedings on giant screens set up around Rome, according to estimates based on police aerial shots. In another first on a historic day, two living popes were present for the ceremony.

JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH A historic first: double canonization 03:01 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI , who resigned from the papacy a year ago citing health reasons, was not at the altar but was greeted warmly by Francis both before and after the event. Many of those gathered in the square for the solemn open-air ceremony carried flags and banners. The red and white Polish flag was prominent among them, a reflection of the affection felt for John Paul II in his homeland, Poland. Another read simply, "Thank you." With the canonization, a holy relic for each of the popes was formally presented to the altar before the crowds. Giant banners showing the faces of the two late popes hung on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica. In his homily, Francis described the pair as "men of courage" who bore witness to God's mercy. "They were priests, bishops and popes of the 20th century," he said. "They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful, faith was more powerful." He paid tribute to the efforts of John XXIII and John Paul II to renew and strengthen the church.

The landmark Second Vatican Council called by John XXIII was of great service to the church, he said. That council helped to bring the church to the people, for example by allowing languages other than Latin to be used for Mass. John Paul II, who served for nearly 27 years, is seen as the "pope of the family" and wanted to be remembered that way, Francis added. Popemobile progress After greeting visiting dignitaries, Pope Francis climbed into the Popemobile, a chance for him to get closer to some of the many faithful who have flocked to Rome. The joyful crowds waved and screamed as he passed through their midst in the open-sided vehicle, with Francis waving and smiling back. One American pilgrim, Hector Alicea of Maryland, told CNN it was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for him and his two children to be there for the event. "It was very exciting," he said. "We didn't get a lot of sleep and it's very, very crowded, but all in all it was an incredibly cheerful environment." The event has a special significance for him because his faith was revitalized after he heard John Paul II preach a sermon in Baltimore in 1994, he said.

"What we are seeing today is the kind of youth who grew up in the John Paul generation." He was impressed by the diversity of the crowds, he said, as well as the numbers of young and old among them. Applause greets Benedict Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said beforehand that as many as 150 cardinals and 1,000 bishops would attend the canonization ceremony, as well as some 6,000 priests. Benedict, looking frail in his white robes, was greeted with applause as he took his place among the bishops and cardinals. Delegations from more than 100 countries around the world were expected to be present, the Vatican said, including at least 24 heads of state. A large Jewish delegation was also to attend, reflecting the efforts of both popes to reach out to the Jewish faith. Sunday evening also marks the beginning of Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The two popes canonized are: John XXIII (1881-1963) -- known as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli before he became pope -- was one of 13 children born into a family of Italian peasants, farmers from a tiny village in the country's north. He was sent away to study for the priesthood at age 11. John Paul II (1920-2005), born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, was brought up in a grimy industrial town in Poland and raised by his soldier father after his mother died when he was just 8 years old. He spent his formative years living under first Nazis, then Communists. His beatification is the quickest in modern times, made possible because Benedict -- who succeeded John Paul in 2005 -- waived the normal five-year waiting period after death to get someone's beatification rolling. Tomb visits Vatican observers see the decision to canonize both popes together as a masterstroke designed to invite unity within the Roman Catholic Church, since it brings together a conservative and a reformer. The day chosen for the ceremony, the first Sunday after Easter, is significant because in the church calendar it is Divine Mercy Sunday.

Mercy was a theme important to both popes -- and to Francis. After the Mass, the Basilica of St. Peter will be open into the evening to allow pilgrims the opportunity to visit the tombs of the two new saints, Vatican Radio said. John Paul II's relic, a vial containing his blood, is the same one used for his beatification ceremony in 2011. John XXIII's relic is a piece of skin removed from his body when it was exhumed -- in order to move his body from the crypt under St Peter's Basilica to the main Basilica -- for his 2000 beatification ceremony. After the Eucharistic service, their names were included for the first time in the chanting of the litany of the saints. The huge crowds present in Rome reflect the fact that both men were popular in life and known for their efforts to reach out to ordinary people, a path which Francis also seems determined to follow. The event is the biggest in Vatican City since the election of Pope Francis last year. The Vatican's official website said civil security forces were prepared and the subway system would run nonstop through the weekend to accommodate the influx of pilgrims for the ceremony.

Pope Francis makes history with dual canonization of Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II | Fox News Pope Francis makes history with dual canonization of Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II Published April 27, 2014 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis declared Popes John XXIII and John Paul II saints before some 800,000 people on Sunday in an unprecedented ceremony made even more historic by the presence of emeritus Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square. Never before have a reigning pope and a retired pope celebrated Mass together in public, much less at an event honoring two of their most famous predecessors. Benedict's presence was a reflection of the balancing act that Francis envisioned when he decided to canonize John and John Paul together, showing the unity of the Catholic Church by honoring popes beloved by conservatives and progressives alike. Francis made that point clear in his homily, praising both new saints for their work associated with the Second Vatican Council, the groundbreaking meetings that brought the 2,000-year-old institution into modern times. John convened the council in 1962 while John Paul helped ensure its more conservative implementation and interpretation.

"John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the church in keeping with her pristine features, those features which the saints have given her throughout the centuries," Francis said. More On This... Reflecting on the lives of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II He praised John for having allowed himself to be led by God to call the council, and he hailed John Paul's focus on the family -- an issue Francis has taken up himself. "They were priests, bishops and popes of the 20th century," Francis said. "They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them." It was Benedict who put John Paul on the fast-track for possible sainthood just weeks after he died in 2005, responding to the chants of "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood Now!" that erupted during his funeral Mass. His canonization is now the fastest in modern times. Francis then tweaked the Vatican's own saint-making rules, deciding that John could be made a saint alongside him without the necessary second miracle usually required for canonization.

Francis took a deep breath and paused for a moment before reciting the saint-making formula in Latin at the start of the ceremony, as if moved by the history he was about to make in canonizing two popes at once. He said that after deliberating, consulting and praying for divine assistance "we declare and define that Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church." Applause broke out from a crowd that stretched from St. Peter's to the Tiber River and beyond. "This is such a historic moment," marveled the Rev. Victor Perez, who brought a group from the John Paul High School in Houston, Texas and waited for nearly 12 hours to get near St. Peter's. "John Paul was so impactful on the church. He completed the work of Vatican II. Today honors the last 50 years of what God has done in the church." In John Paul's native Poland, bells rang out as soon as Francis pronounced the two men saints.

"He changed Poland and he changed us with his teaching and with his visits here," an emotional Maria Jurek said as she watched the proceedings on giant TV screens at a sanctuary dedicated to John Paul in Krakow. In the Philippines, where John Paul in 1995 drew the largest ever crowd for a papal Mass at 4 million, Filipinos watched the canonization on TV and joined local celebrations, including a suburban Manila parade of children dressed like the pope. Yet the atmosphere in St. Peter's seemed somber and subdued -- perhaps due to the chilly gray skies and cumulative lack of sleep of many of the pilgrims who camped out on the streets near the Vatican or stayed up praying at the all-night vigils organized in churches around town. It was a far different scene than the rollicking party atmosphere of John Paul's May 2011 beatification, when bands of young people sang, danced and cheered before, during and after the Mass. Spirits did pick up after the service when Francis drove through the crowds in his open-topped car all the way down to the Tiber River, giving many people their first -- and only -- close-up glimpse of him.

The Vatican estimated that 800,000 people watched the Mass in Rome, with about 500,000 in the square and nearby streets and the rest watching on TV screens that had been set up in piazzas around town. By the time the ceremony began, Via della Conciliazione, the main boulevard leading from the square, nearby streets and the bridges across the Tiber were packed. Polish pilgrims carrying the red and white flags of John Paul's beloved homeland had been among the first to push into the square well before sunrise, as the human chains of neon-vested civil protection workers trying to maintain order finally gave up and let them in. "Four popes in one ceremony is a fantastic thing to see and to be at, because it is history being written in our sight," marveled one of the visiting Poles, Dawid Halfar. Benedict had promised to remain "hidden from the world" after resigning last year, but Francis has coaxed him out of retirement and urged him to take part in the public life of the church. During the Mass, Benedict sat off to the side of the altar with other cardinals, though he was clearly in a place of honor.

He received the Italian president and a steady stream of cardinals, as well as Francis himself who embraced Benedict at the beginning and end of the service. Benedict had arrived in the square on his own to cheers and applause, wearing the same white vestments and white bishops' miter as other cardinals. The only difference was he had a white skullcap on rather than red. In a dress rehearsal of sorts, Benedict attended the February ceremony in which Francis installed 19 new cardinals. But celebrating Mass together with Francis was something else entirely, a first for the institution and a reflection of Francis' desire to show the continuity in the papacy, despite different personalities, priorities and politics. Pope John XIII, who reigned from 1958-1963, is a hero to liberal Catholics for having convened Vatican II, which allowing Mass to be celebrated in local languages rather than Latin and encouraged greater dialogue with people of other faiths, particularly Jews. During his quarter-century papacy from 1978-2005, John Paul II helped topple communism through his support of Poland's Solidarity movement.

His globe-trotting papacy and launch of the wildly popular World Youth Days invigorated a new generation of Catholics, while his defense of core church teaching heartened conservatives after the turbulent 1960s. "John Paul was our pope," said Therese Andjoua, a 49-year-old nurse who traveled from Libreville, Gabon, with some 300 other pilgrims to attend. She sported a traditional African dress bearing the images of the two new saints. "In 1982 he came to Gabon and when he arrived he kissed the ground and told us to `Get up, go forward and be not afraid,"' she recalled as she rested against a pallet of water bottles. "When we heard he was going to be canonized, we got up." Kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers from more than 90 countries attended. Some 20 Jewish leaders from the U.S., Israel, Italy, Francis' native Argentina and Poland were also taking part, in a clear sign of their appreciation for the great strides made in Catholic-Jewish relations under John, John Paul -- and their successors celebrating their sainthood.

Advertisement 1000+ images about POPES & SAINTS on Pinterest | Vatican city, Rome and Pope john paul ii On Dec. 23, 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Mehmet Ali Agca, in a prison in Rome. The pope forgave the man who attempted to kill him in 1981. See More The superstar popes: Why they're being canonized - CNN.com The superstar popes: Why they're being canonized By Bryony Jones and Jim Bitterman, CNN Updated 9:07 AM ET, Fri April 25, 2014 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

JUST WATCHED From humble beginnings to sainthood 02:15 Story highlights Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II to be made saints in special ceremony Pair -- and Pope Francis, who will canonize them -- are three most popular pontiffs John XXIII and John Paul II both came from humble backgrounds Commentators say Francis may be looking to heal rift within church Three of the best-loved leaders in the history of the Roman Catholic church will be united this weekend when Pope Francis makes his predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, saints in a special ceremony in St Peter's Square. The two canonization candidates share an improbable path to sainthood: they both rose from very humble beginnings to lead the Roman Catholic church. John XXIII (1881-1963) -- known as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli before he became Pope -- was one of 13 children born into a family of Italian peasants, farmers from a tiny village in the country's north, before being sent away to study for the priesthood at the age of 11.

John Paul II (1920-2005), born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, was brought up in a grimy industrial town in Poland and raised by his soldier father after his mother died when he was just eight. He spent his formative years living under first Nazis, then Communists. For both boys, the church offered a way out -- and up. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Pope Francis breaks tradition, again 03:00 "Roman Catholicism, unlike temporal power, has been one of the most effective social elevators on this planet," says church historian Alberto Melloni , "taking people from the most humble positions and bringing them to the top." Vatican analyst Robert Mickens says the pair's poor backgrounds gave them a "pastoral sense" which was key to their success in the church -- and which goes some way to explaining their huge popularity. "They did not come from noble families either one of them, [but from] working class families and I think they also were two people who had a real sense of humanity." The pair also turned out to be leaders with unforeseen qualities.

John XXIII, already 76 when he was elected pope after a long career as a priest, professor and Vatican diplomat, had been expected to serve merely as a "papa di passaggio," or interim, caretaker Pope. But instead, 100 days into his reign he took the surprising -- and courageous -- decision to try to shake up the church, calling for the Second Vatican Council (better known as Vatican II), which he hoped would modernize Roman Catholicism, bring unity and improve its relations with other faiths. John Paul II, once an actor, had a presence before the cameras that enthralled millions of Catholics young and old as he evangelized to the far ends of the earth. It's not what he might have expected, growing up under not one but two dictatorial regimes. Both men were much loved by the Catholic faithful -- in their final days, masses were held for them around the globe, while thousands of people crowded into St Peter's Square to offer prayers.

When John XXIII's death was announced, the crowds wept for "Il Papa Buono" ("The Good Pope"); more than 40 years later, when John Paul II died, thousands cried "santo subito!" ("Make him a Saint now!"). It didn't happen right away, but John Paul II's canonization did come sooner than tradition would usually dictate. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Papal sainthood: What's the rush? 04:18 For John XXIII also, the rules have been changed; he is credited with just one miracle, rather than the two which would usually be required for him to "qualify" as a saint. The pair's double canonization is unprecedented: it will be the first time two Popes have been made saints on the same day. Experts say that in recognizing the two men together, Francis may be looking to heal a long-term rift in the church, dating back to Vatican II, that ground-breaking conference of church leaders set up by John XXIII. Karol Wojtyla -- who was to become John Paul II, but back then was simply a young bishop -- was at those meetings.

He argued against John XXIII's planned "aggiornamento" ("updating") and was in favor of keeping with tradition. The modernizing Pope -- already gravely ill when the meetings began -- died before the event could reach the conclusion he had hoped for. The splits have remained ever since. Cardinal Paul Poupard , former president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue , who knew both men, says Pope Francis is hoping to repair that rift by canonizing the two men who have come to represent the two opposing views. "The pope is going to bring together in one ceremony the father of the council and [the one] who put it into action," he explains. For Cardinal Walter Kasper , former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity , the double canonization is a sign of the church's future direction. "It's official recognition that these were good popes and we will follow their steps now," he says.

Question: Which name is shared by the two popes made saints by the Vatican in April 2014?
Answer: John