John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI has today declared the late Pope John Paul II blessed, bringing him one step closer to sainthood.

Benedict XVI beatified his predecessor in front of over a million pilgrims who had gathered in St Peter’s Square and other piazzas surrounding the Vatican.

Benedict XVI said the Polish pope had opened society, culture, political and economic systems to Christ, “turning back with the strength of a titan—a strength which came to him from God—a tide which appeared irreversible”.

john paul ii

Sunday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, the Catholic Church celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

For those who do not participate in this event, and YouTube has a live stream from 1:00 conditional ET (09:00 EDT).

The Beatification of Pope John Paul II

Has Tony Blair been invited? Well, has he? He is undoubtedly the most recent highest-profile Tiber-swimmer in the world, and you’d think with all his post-prime-ministerial ‘doing God’ and Middle-East-envoying he’d have received an invitation to the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II. Especially knowing how devout his wife is on most things. And what about his successor, Gordon Brown? Surely the Vatican wouldn’t take its lead from Buckingham Palace and snub both former British prime ministers? Wasn’t it Mr Brown who actually invited Pope Benedict XVI to the UK on the first ever state visit by a pope (before Her Majesty even got a look in........