Pope Francis has announced that Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints on 27 April 2014.
He 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 Francis approved John XXIII's canonisation despite the fact that no second miracle had been attributed to him - usually a requirement for sainthood.
Reports say the decision to canonise the two at the same time appears designed to unify Catholics.
John Paul II is a favourite of conservative Catholics, while John XXIII is widely admired by the Church's progressive wing.
BBC
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