Pope Francis on April 27 proclaimed John Paul II and John XXIII the Catholic Church’s newest saints at a festive ceremony joined by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for two pontiffs who helped shape 20th-century history.
Pope John Paul II (1978-2005): Fighter for freedom
– The hugely popular John Paul II was also a divisive figure who alienated many left-leaning Catholics during his 27-year reign
– He has been criticised for turning a blind eye to revelations of child sex crimes by priests
– He helped topple communism in Eastern Europe
– He survived an assassination attempt by Turkish extremist Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter’s Square in 1981
– His sainthood was sped up and comes just nine years after his death — the fastest canonisation since the 18th century when the current rules were adopted.
John XIII (1958-1963): Good Pope John
– He helped bring to an end official Catholic prejudice against Jews and has been credited as a peacemaker in the Cold War
– He helped defuse tensions during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
– He is remembered for launching a process of reform of the Catholic Church in the 1960s
Story: Jean-Louis de la Vaisserie and Laure Brumont / AFP
Photo: Instagram.com/2popesaints
