POPE JOHN PAUL II
"Santo Subito!" In speaking choirs and on banners umpteen believers already demanded the quick sanctification for the freshly deceased Pope John Paul II during his funeral service in April 2005. Compared to early church history where straightforward sanctifications were performed due to acclamation of the public, the canonisation is a long procedure with strict criteria today.

As from the formal investigation, beyond the careful verification of the worthiness and proof of a miracle, up to the point of the official farewell and sanctification through the Pope, it often takes several years. Furthermore the church law first requires a beatification, which can normally only be initiated five years after death. At least here the charismatic Pope from Poland already provided an exception: Only a few weeks after his death, his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, initiated the procedure for his beatification.