John Paul II closer to 'sainthood' after Vatican committee approves second miracle

Late Pope John Paul II is set to be declared a saint this year after as his second miracle for a Costa Rican woman who was suffering from severe brain injury has been reportedly approved by the Vatican Committee.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints ruled that the 'inexplicable recovery' on 1 May 2011 was due to the late Pope's intercession, BBC reports.

Once Pope Francis approves the late Pope's miracle and sets a date for canonization, a final step to 'sainthood', it could lead the late Pope to 'sainthood' faster than anyone else in the history.

John Paul II died in 2005 aged 84 and was beatified by his successor Benedict XVI in May 2011 after he reportedly interceded from beyond the grave, to help cure a French nun named Sister Marie Simon-Pierre who was suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Pope Benedict XVI had waived off the traditional five-year waiting period and allowed investigation into the late Pope's life and virtues to begin immediately.

At the Congregation, cardinals and bishops mooted a canonisation ceremony taking place in December and possible date could be December 8 on which Catholics celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the report added.