John Paul II died in Rome on April 2, 2005 after serving 27 years, which is the second longest pontificate in the 2000 years of the office.  Since his death there have been a number of changes in Catholic tradition including the wait for consideration for beatification being waived and “The Great” being attached to his name by Pope Benedict XVI and a number of newspapers, which if this designation sustains it will be the first time that “The Great” has been applied to a Pope since Nicholas I, 858-867.

On April 2, 2007- the same day that this picture was taken- John Paul II became a step closer to being Canonized as his cause moved to the scrutiny of the committee of lay, clerical, and episcopal members of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

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More research:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/  The official Vatican site dedicated to Pope John Paul II.

http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/miraculous_images.htm  Website with a bunch of pictures of other mysterious images of Saints, angels etc.

http://www.cptryon.org/ask/ask/beat.html  Get a better idea of the Canonization process that the Catholic Church goes through to name a Saint.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/  The office of the “Saint Police” who do the research on miracles associated with declaring Saints.