Statement of Archbishop Vigneron on the Beatification of Pope John Paul II

The late Pope John Paul II is now a major step closer to sainthood following the approval of a decree attributing a miracle to him. Pope Benedict XI will preside over his predecessor's beatification ceremony on May 1 at the Vatican. "The news," Archbishop Vigneron says, "brings joy to the whole Church." Detroit's Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who served at the Vatican for a brief time during Pope John Paul II's 27-year papacy, comments:

"The news that Pope Benedict XVI will beatify the Venerable John Paul II on May 1 brings joy to the whole Church. All of us have our own particular fond memories of this great pastor, our beloved father in Christ – many of them coming from his visit to the Archdiocese in September 1987. In his days among us he showed us the face of Christ. As we venerate his memory, he still does us that service from the Father's house in heaven."