Late Pope John Paul II could become the...
Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, voiced the proposal. He said John Paul II was a sportsman himself and had a good understanding of true Christian and human significance of sports.
According to Martins, it would be good if the late pope, a Pole, is beatified this year, when South Africa is to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as soccer players will receive a patron saint at a right time.
Beatification in the Roman Catholic Church is the first step toward canonization of someone who is dead, or making the person a saint.
The Christian tradition to choose patron saints to different professions and activities dates back to the first centuries A.D. and exists in many churches.
Russian Olympic sportspeople who are Orthodox Christians believe St. George is their patron saint. They have gathered for divine services in the St. George church in western Moscow before leaving for previous Olympic Games.