Pope John Paul II is a step towards sainthood

Pope Benedict XVI saintly Pope Jean Paul II Sunday on the Saint-Pierre place before an approximately one million people, declaring Polish born Pope to be "blessed" and give a canonicalization step.

"He has restored to Christianity his true face as a religion of hope," Benedict XVI said in his homily.

Among the faithful was a French nun, sister Marie Simon-Pierre, who said that she was cured of Parkinson's disease after praying to the Pope months only after his death from complications of the same disease. She was carrying a vial of her blood extracted during his long illness.

The Vatican certified cure sister stone as a "miracle" and cause Jean-Paul of advanced. Beatification is defined as a "blessed" and is the first step in the typically long process of a saint by the Church. A second miracle associated with John Paul is necessary before his canonization.

Posters honoring the life of John Paul have been posted throughout the ceremony before Rome. Grand showing images of Pope John Paul II television screens have been erected along the Via della Conciliazione, the Roman Street which leads to St. Peter's Basilica.

Memories through the capital Tower shops papal memorabilia, ranging from Holy cards to calendars, giant scarves and same bobble head dolls of the late Pope.

As Pope, John Paul II more than saintly persons than the total of all the Popes since the reign of the 15th century by Pope Sixtus VI, leading some critics to assume that he was quickly pushed to holiness. Some say that Pope John Paul II was on the "fast track" to holiness shortly after his death in 2005.

Joe Lynaugh Catholic movement, call to Action, opposes the canonization of potential of John Paul II.

"This just remains as an another disappointment from a church which is sadly filled with disappointments these days," Lynaugh told ABC News. "Canonization, perhaps, but we will decide a few hundred years from now." I would deal with 10. ?

Father Thomas Williams, a Roman Catholic priest and Professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Regina Apostolorum in Rome, disagrees.

"It was a response to a request from base rather than a top-down decision," he said. "There was a public clamor for Pope John Paul II to be recognized as a saint, once it is dead." Simply, the Church had acceded to the wishes of the faithful. The process began quickly, but there are no shortcuts taken in the process itself. His life has been discussed in detail and the result was what people had expected: John Paul was a man truly holy. ?

A support group for victims of paedophile priests, meanwhile, urged the Vatican to slow the rush to sanctify John Paul II. This weekend, network of survivors of those abused by priests (SNAP) issued a statement accusing him of turning a blind eye to the abuses.

"The ecclesiastical hierarchy can avoid more salt to friction in these injuries by slowing their hasty drive of conferring of Holiness on the Pontiff, said Barbara Blaine, head of the SNAP."