Pope John Paul II could be named a saint as early as October, Archbishop Edward Nowak, the secretary for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has told an Italian newspaper.

Talking to the daily Corriere della Sera Polish-born Nowak said that six months could be enough time to attribute the required two miracles to John Paul II.

Catholic News Agency comments that only miracles occurring after his death would count toward his sainthood.

An eventual speedy canonization of the pope would waive the current procedure under which the process for beatification begin only five years after a person's death.

Pope John Paul II himself started the process for canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta only a year and a half after her death.

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