To have two saints canonized on the same day is special. To have both of them be former popes makes it unique.

     On Sept. 30, 2013, Pope Francis announced that former Popes John Paul II and John XXIII would become saints. That day arrived on April 27, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, in the Vatican City, as the two became the first canonized saints since Kateri Tekakwitha in 2012 canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.

     According the Catholic Education Resource Center, the first step is recognizing whether any special favor or miracle has been granted through this candidate saint’s intercession. The Church will then see if the candidates had nothing against the Church or faith which could include actions against it or negative remarks. To end this part, all the information is submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

     John Paul II became well-known for encouraging the downfall of communism throughout Eastern Europe, and John XXIII for assembling the liberalizing Second Vatican City Council that ran from 1962-1965.

      The Vatican spokesperson Rev. Federico Lombardi felt that this was a strong quality during the news conference in September.

     “To celebrate them together is a sign of appreciation of the holiness of two popes who paid witness to our time,” Lombardi said.

     After that, the Congregation examines to see if the candidate practiced the virtues in an exemplary manner and with heroism. He or she then becomes Venerable. Beatification is when a miracle has to performed and investigated. Once confirmed, another miracle has to be performed, and then he can enter sainthood.

     Paul II’s miracle involved curing a man of Parkinson’s disease. Marco Fidel Rojas experienced symptoms in December of 2005. His health deteriorated, but everything changed after Dec. 27, 2010. He met with John Paul II after a mass in Rome. Later that night, Rojas prayed to him and then woke up with no pain whatsoever. All the pain was gone. Paul II also healed a French nun of Parkinson’s to complete the two miracles.

      Pope John XXIII has no confirmed second miracle which makes his case rare. His first was the curing of an ailing women. Pope Francis waived the necessity of a second miracle.

Lombardi also said that a canonization without a second miracle is still valid.