30/09/2013 18:34
Popes to be declared saints in April
Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints on 27 April 2014, Pope Francis has announced, according to the BBC.
The Pope said in July that he would canonise his two predecessors, after approving a second miracle attributed to John Paul.
Polish John Paul, the first non-Italian pope for more than 400 years, led the Catholic Church from 1978-2005.
Pope John was pontiff from 1958-1963, calling the Second Vatican Council that transformed the Church.
The decision to canonise the two at the same time appears designed to unify Catholics, correspondents say.
John Paul II is a favourite of conservative Catholics, while John XXIII is widely admired by the Church's progressive wing.