Pope John Paul II will be named a saint on Sunday, April 27 at a ceremony in Vatican City.

In order to be canonized, or officially declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the individual in question must undergo investigation after death.

The requirements for canonization include two Vatican-verified miracles performed due intercession of the individual on another individual.

After the Vatican verifies the first miracle, the Vatican declares the individual to be “beatified.” A beatified individual earns the title of “Blessed” before his name. Beatification is an intermediate step to canonization.

The Vatican verified John Paul II’s miracle – the curing of 50 year-old Floibeth Mora’s inoperable brain aneurym, which was cured after she looked at the late pope’s picture in a newspaper.

Normally, five years must pass after an individual’s death before the canonization process can begin. John Paul II’s, however, began only four years after his death.