Paths to sainthood
Simon Western reflects on the fast-tracking of a saint in an increasingly secular world
The path to sainthood for John Paul II was the fastest in modern history, raising eyebrows among traditionalists for packing a painstaking process that can sometimes take centuries into nine incredibly short years.
Whether John Paul II should or shouldn’t be a saint isn’t the issue I am addressing here. This article addresses the question of why the Catholic Church has fast-tracked this process and the social meaning it reveals.
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.