Only five years after his death, the beatification of Pope John Paul II is set to occur on the Divine Mercy on May 1.

Pope John Paul II is being beatified because Pope Benedict XVI approved the miracle of the French nun, Sister Marie Simon Pierre, who was cured of Parkinson’s disease, according to an article by the Catholic News Service.

Beatification, the third step in the Catholic Church’s canonization process, is the naming of one as blessed, said Steve Blaha, assistant director of Campus Ministry.

In order for one to become a saint, they must go through a four-step process. The first is when community members and the local church recognize “the member of the baptized” as a hero. Then, they send the information they have gathered about the person’s life to Rome, where the person will then become venerable. Third, a person becomes blessed, or beatified, when a miracle is approved. Finally, if a second miracle is approved, they are canonized, Blaha said.

Typically, there is a five-year waiting period before the canonization process can begin, according to Blaha. It gives people and chance to grieve and brings clarity to the situation.

Blaha said John Paul II was a very popular pope and that is probably why his path to sainthood has been quicker than most.

Historically, in order to become a saint, a person needs to follow Christ, and in doing so, inspire others to do the same, he said.

One other way to become a saint is to die as a martyr of the faith, Blaha said.

Michal Gawlik, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, said he was thankful for everything John Paul II did throughout his papacy.

“I feel that Pope John Paul II deserves beatification not only for this specific miracle but for his phenomenal work as the Pope,” Gawlik said in an e-mail.

Gawlik said one of the strongest memories he has of John Paul II was his funeral, which he woke up for at 3 a.m. to watch live from the Vatican.

“The most profound imagery from that morning that I have is the enormous mass of people that came out to show their support for this great man,” Gawlik said. “The sign of peace between world leaders (the largest gathering of leaders at a funeral, even more than at Winston Churchill’s), and the flipping of the pages of the Bible in the wind towards the end of the ceremony while the crowd cheered ‘Santo Subito.’”

Andrew McDonald, a second-year law student, also feels that John Paul II is being beatified for all the great things he did for the “Catholic faith and the faithful.”

He was a huge contributor at the Second Vatican Council, played a big part in overthrowing Communism, and reached out to the youth in the church by establishing World Youth Day, McDonald said in an e-mail.

“I think it’s great he’s being beatified,” he said. “Because he played such a huge role in the faith lives of so many people, due in part to the fact that he was one of the longest serving popes, a lot of people feel a personal connection to him. This should continue to deepen people’s faith and prayer lives.”

The reconciliation he created between people makes it important for him to become a saint, Blaha said.

Erin Blaney, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, feels John Paul II is being beatified because of his work with the youth.

“I think it’s great our generation can see the whole process and be able to remember how warm and involved he was,” she said.