He stayed in Cebu for just two days but John Paul II has left an indelible mark in the island considered as the cradle of Christianity in the Far East.
“Cebuanos have a very good memory of him. Let us pray to God together with the pope who we shall soon be called St. John Paul II,” said Msgr. Esteban Binghay, one of the episcopal vicars of the Archdiocese of Cebu.
The Polish pope nears sainthood after the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints recognized a second miracle attributed to the intercession of John Paul II.
It’s now up to Pope Francis to approve the authenticity of the miracle which is a requirement for the formal declaration of sainthood.
According to reports, John Paul II is likely to be canonized by the end of the year.
The second miracle which was made possible through the intercession of John Paul II happened on the very day he was beatified in St. Peter’s Square on May 1, 2011.
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints ruled that the “inexplicable recovery” of a Costa Rican woman who was suffering from severe brain injury was due to John Paul II’s prayers.
For one to be declared a saint, there must be two approved miracles. The first is necessary for beatification and another one for canonization.
The first “approved” miracle attributed to John Paul II was the healing of French nun Marie Simon-Pierre whose recovery from Parkinson’s disease came after members of her community sought the intercession of the late pope.
A group of medical experts, theologians and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints help the Holy Father in deciding on whether or not to approve the sainthood of a person.
If John Paul II will be declared a saint, he would be recognized as worthy of public veneration in the entire Catholic Church.
Binghay, a canon lawyer, said there were 250 miracles attributed to John Paul II even before the latter was beatified.
But the Catholic Church chose just “major” miracles needed for beatification and canonization.
Binghay urged Cebuanos to pray to John Paul II considering the several challenges that currently confront the Catholic faith.
He said John Paul II will always be remembered by Filipinos for giving the country its first saint Lorenzo Ruiz on October 18, 1987.
The well-loved pope also beatified the first Visayan martyr Pedro Calungsod on March 5, 2000. Calungsod was named saint by Pope Benedict XVI last year.
John Paul II visited Cebu on February 19 and 20, 1981. During his visit, he spoke to the clergy and the faithful and presided over an open-air mass at what has now become the I.T. Park in Lahug, Cebu City. He spent the night at the Archbishop’s Residence in Cebu City.
Binghay considered John Paul II as the people’s pope.
“He was very open to the people. One wouldn’t think twice in approaching him. He embraced everyone including the sick in order to give them hope,” he said.
John Paul II died at the age of 84 on April 2, 2005 which was the eve of the Divine Mercy Sunday—a feast which he introduced.