Close X
Sunday, January 12, 2025
ADVT 
International

Corageous popes John XXIII, John Paul II are saints

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 27 Apr, 2014 03:03 PM
  • Corageous popes John XXIII, John Paul II are saints
 Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were canonised by Pope Francis Sunday in the Vatican City, the country's official news network News.VA said.
 
For the first time in history, two popes have been elevated to the vele of sauinthood at the same time.
 
Pope Francis read the formal proclamation at the canonisation mass in Latin. 
 
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Francis' predecessor who abdicated on grounds of ill health, was also present at the canonisation mass.
 
Pope Francis termed the two saints as "men of courage" and placed relics, a container of blood from John Paul and a piece of skin from John near the altar.
 
The Vatican confirmed the sainthood on the two former popes Sunday in front of some 800,000 pilgrims who packed the St.Peter's Square during the two-hour ceremony. 
 
The mass was attended by a hundred foreign delegates comprising of heads of state, government and royal dignitaries along with members of the Christian church.
 
Notable guests included Floribeth Mora, who claims John Paul II cured her of a serious brain condition. 
 
Of Polish origin, Saint John Paul II served from October 16, 1978, until his death in 2005, was the second longest serving pope in history and also the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI, who died in 1523. 
 
He has been deemed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century as he is recognised for his efforts to end the Communist rule in Poland and eventually all of Europe.
 
He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate, including Goa Feb 6, 1986. 
 
He has been attributed for two miracles including healing a French nun of Parkinson's Disease.
 
He also supported the end the Apartheid in South Africa, pushing for the European Constitution draft, opposed the Iraq War and the Gulf War, and fought for homosexual rights.
 
Saint John XXIII, an Italian, served from October 28, 1958, to his death in 1963 and was the first pope to take the pontifical name of "John" upon election in more than 500 years.
 
He is famous for his efforts during the Holocaust in World War II to save Jewish people and the refugees from the Nazis.
 
He also became the first pope since 1870 to make pastoral visits in his Diocese of Rome, when he visited children infected with polio, a reformatory school for juvenile delinquents.
 
He also fought for human rights and opposed the idea of a divorce. 
 
In 1962, he was named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine, the first ever pope to be so named.
 
Saint John XXIII is said to have had echieved apocalyptic visions of the future and also claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

MORE International ARTICLES

Sikh man barred from jury duty in California

Sikh man barred from jury duty in California
A Sikh American is being prevented from doing jury duty in Sutter County in Northern California because of his kirpan, the ceremonial dagger worn by Sikhs as part of their religion.

Sikh man barred from jury duty in California

US special envoy lands in Pakistan to discuss Afghanistan

US special envoy lands in Pakistan to discuss Afghanistan
US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins has opened talks with Pakistani leaders on bilateral and regional issues, focusing on the situation in Afghanistan, officials here said Thursday.

US special envoy lands in Pakistan to discuss Afghanistan

Indians, Asians fast becoming politically relevant in US: Report

Indians, Asians fast becoming politically relevant in US: Report
With Indians and other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders growing in number at a fast pace, people of colour will be in the majority in the US by mid-century, according to a new report.

Indians, Asians fast becoming politically relevant in US: Report

A new player challenges Nikki Haley in South Carolina

A new player challenges Nikki Haley in South Carolina
South Carolina's Indian American Governor Nikki Haley faces a new challenge in her re-election bid with a former judge named Tom Ervin joining the race as an independent.

A new player challenges Nikki Haley in South Carolina

Modi a threat to democracy, say Indian-origin academics in Britain

Modi a threat to democracy, say Indian-origin academics in Britain
A group of Indian-origin academics in Britain has slammed the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his authoritarian nature which they said can only weaken India's democracy.

Modi a threat to democracy, say Indian-origin academics in Britain

Bangladesh building victims need help: rights group

Bangladesh building victims need help: rights group
Survivors of the Rana Plaza building collapse one year ago in Bangladesh are still suffering from their injuries and loss of income, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

Bangladesh building victims need help: rights group