I agree that the Church must be wary of the emotion that the media usually seeks to engender about so many things. However, in the pre-medieval Church, before there was an established process for canonization, saints were frequently named due to public acclamation and reports of miracles at their intercession. Blessed John Paul II is a modern example of this, but he will still go through the process, so to speak, even if it is acclerated a bit.
While I can appreciate that some, myself included, see some negative aspects of his papacy, we are not discussing secular politics here. One does not critique a papacy as one does a presidential term, and decide sainthood based on that. The Church examines the life of an individual and determines sanctity. That is what’s all about–sanctity.
BJP2 gave us an extraordinary model of sanctity–In particular, his patient bearing of physical suffering during his last decade on earth. He is a model for all elderly and infirmed people who must bear the physical ravages of their afflictions. In this regard, he mirrors the sufferings of Our Lord Himself. In the midst of all this, he made the world aware of the Divine Mercy devotion. Many see this is his greatest gift to the Church and a visible aspect of his own sanctity. The Divine Mercy was not very well-known outside of Poland, but he saw to it that the entire Church became aware of St. Faustina and Our Lord’s message to her. His emphasis on prayer wherever he went was another hallmark of his sanctity. His constant calls for peace and justice in the world demonstrated his concern for all people. His gentle but firm role in the ending of communism in the West is another aspect.
This is why people cried out, “Sancto subito!”
