Beloved Pope to Become Mexican Saint?

April 2 marks the death day of Mexico’s beloved Pope John Paul II. The spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, John Paul’s kindness and genuine concern for the world’s least fortunate human beings inspired people of many faiths. Known as “the people’s Pope” and the “pilgrim Pope,” the white-haired, seemingly frail pontiff was one of the most influential and best-traveled world leaders in history. During his lifetime, John Paul made five visits to Mexico, where he blessed millions of people strung out along parade routes and during huge, open-air Masses.

Born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in 1920, the first Polish pope mastered some half dozen languages in addition to his native language. Like previous popes, John Paul spoke out against abortion, birth control, and war; but he also routinely preached against materialism and substituting capitalism for spirituality rooted in community involvment.

John Paul beautified (the first step toward sainthood) more people than any other pontiff. Among them was Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin, the peasant to whom Mexico’s pride and joy and patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, appeared on several occasions. John Paul II himself (known as Juan Pablo Segundo in the Spanish-speaking world) was put on a fast track to sainthood by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI.