Quest for Sainthood for John Paul II Said to Advance Pope John Paul II, left, appears to have moved a step closer to sainthood. A Vatican official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a commission of theologians approved a miracle attributed to John Paul's intercession, and the case now goes to a commission of cardinals and then Pope Francis. The Catholic News Service said the event in question probably involves the reported spontaneous healing of a Latin American woman in 2011 just hours after John Paul was beatified. John Paul has been on the fast track for sainthood ever since the traditional five-year waiting period was waived by Benedict when he was pope. He allowed an investigation into John Paul's life and virtues to begin just weeks after his 2005 death.