Pope John Paul II to Be Declared Saint on Oct 20?

Unconfirmed reports said that Pope John Paul II might be declared a saint on Oct 20, 2013. The Italian Catholic magazine Credere cited the second miracle attributed to the late pontiff as the basis of its report that his proclamation as saint is coming soon.

The first miracle attributed to the well-loved and charismatic pope which led to his beatification in 2011 was the reported healing of a French nun's Parkinson's Disease.

The second miracle that involves an unnamed woman happened on the day of Pope John Paul II's beatification.

Silverio Gaeta wrote in an article in Credere that the medical council of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints confirmed the second miracle, but it still needs to be evaluated by theologians that the former Cardinal Karol Wojtyla interceded on behalf of the healed woman.

The miracles, however, need to be verified by medical experts and approved by the Vatican cardinals, theologians and the current pontiff, Pope Francis. Vatican, however, declined to confirm or deny the Oct 20 date, although

The pope in between Francis and John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who resigned on Feb 28, 2013, waived the traditional five-year waiting period for his predecessor to be considered for beatification after they die. Pope John Paul II died in 2005.

During his 27 years reign as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II declared 482 saints. If the Oct 20 date is true, the former pontiff would break the 27-year record of Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva who died in 1975.