The Vatican began the first steps of a long beatifying process for Pope Paul John II.

On May 13, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he had decided to place John Paul on a fast track toward possible sainthood. The process began six weeks after the death of John Paul while it took one full year in Mother Theresa's beatification.

After a two week period, an edict was published where Benedict announced he was lifting a five-year waiting period for the process of beatification, the last formal step before the late pontiff could be made a saint.

The process includes inviting testimonies from witnesses about his virtues and widely collect his manuscripts or other documents to the Vatican.

Additionally, it requires the approval of two miracles attributed to his intercession after his death for him to be made a saint.

Benedict said this move is in response to the mourners in John Paul's April 8 funeral, who chanted "Santo! Santo!" and carried banners exclaiming "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood Immediately!"

According to AP, the need for a beatification cause will be displayed on the doors of the headquarters of the diocese of Rome and Krakow, Poland, for two months.

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