The date has been set

 Ever since the flight back from Rio de Janeiro to Rome this summer, when the Holy Father, Pope Francis was asked by journalists about the plans for the Canonization of his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, speculations have been circling about the date when the first Polish Pope would be raised to the level of Sainthood.

Aboard the flight, Pope Francis explained to the journalists that there was originally a hope that the Canonization could take place later this year, but there was also a worry that those who would want to be in Rome for this occasion - from Poland and from other parts of the world - would not be able to travel if the ceremony were to take place during the winter months. Consequently, thought was being given to other dates which might be more conducive.

For the past month or so, we have known that on this day, the Holy Father would hold a Consistory (in this case, a special meeting of Cardinals resident in Rome) during which the date for the Canonization of two of Pope Francis' predecessors would be announced.

This morning, at 10:00am local time in Rome, in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, during the recitation of the liturgical prayer of Terce (mid-morning prayer), the Holy Father, Pope Francis conducted the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Canonization of Blessed John XXIII, Pope; and Blessed John Paul II, Pope.

During the course of the Consistory, the Holy Father decreed that Blessed John XXIII (baptized Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli), and Blessed John Paul II (baptized Karol Wojtyla) will be inscribed in the register of Saints on Sunday, 27 April 2014, the Second Sunday of Easter, otherwise known as Divine Mercy Sunday.