Former aide confirms John Paul II on verge of sainthood
Pope John Paul II praying. Image courtesy Shutterstock
VATICAN CITY (RNS) If Pope John Paul II is declared a saint later this year, as expected, he would become a saint only eight years after his death, easily beating the record of 27 years set by Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva, who was declared a saint in 2002.