Priest says John Paul II’s beatification a morale booster for Catholics

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Catholics from all over the world are expected to attend a ceremony in May beatifying Pope John Paul II. We caught up with one Catholic pastor in our area and asked him what this means for the religion.

To many, Pope John Paul II was an amazing man of God. And with all the controversy and scandal surrounding the Catholic Church, some say his beatification is definitely a morale booster for the institution.

Earlier today Pope Benedict XVI determined that John Paul II had miraculously cured a nun from Parkinson’s Disease. That miracle puts the late pope on the fast track to sainthood.

John McGee is the pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wilmington. He says this event comes at a great time for all catholics.

“Here we have a great pope who served us many, many years is now on his way to sainthood, which I believe is a shot in the arm and a boost for us as Catholic christians,” Fr. McGee said.

McGee says that when the late pope is beatified in May, he will officially be referred to as “Blessed John Paul.”