Pope John Paul II to be made a Saint

The late Pope John Paul II will be made a saint, the Vatican announced today. The news came after Pope Francis approved a second miracle attributed to the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.

The Vatican said Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the Second Vatican Council, would also be made a saint. No dates for the canonization ceremonies were immediately given.

A Vatican official confirmed that the decision had been taken some time back and that Tuesday's meeting was essentially a formality. One possible canonization date is December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a major feast day for the Catholic Church.This year the feast coincidentally falls on a Sunday, which is when canonizations usually occur.