The late Pope John Paul II is one step closer to becoming a saint after a Vatican congregation of cardinals and bishops credited him with performing a second miracle. The attribution means the pope can be canonized by the end of this year, ANSA reports.

The Vatican press office confirmed that the cardinals meet on July 2 and agreed that the late pope’s interceded on May 1, 2011 and healed a Costa Rican woman. Pope Francis must give his signature to confirm the miracle, and if he does, the details surrounding the case will be released, the Catholic News Service reports.

In June, sources who knew about the second miracle said it “will amaze the world” saying that a board of physicians reportedly reviewed the case from the Latin American woman and found no medical explanation for her recovery.

If given the papal signature, this will be Pope John Paul II’s second posthumous miracle which is needed for canonization. The pope’s first miracle took place with the healing of a French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, from Parkinson's disease.

"When I went to the chapel to pray, I realized that my arm was moving and it wasn't motionless beside my body, which was swaying. During the Mass I knew for certain that I had been cured," Simon-Pierre said describing her moment of healing. She later went to her neurologist who said her symptoms disappeared inexplicably, according to RomeReports.com.

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz of Kraków, Poland, Pope John Paul II’s close friend and secretary, speculates the canonization will take place in October – the 35th anniversary of the late pope’s election to papacy. Others say it will take place on Nov. 24.

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, remains one of the most popular popes in history. He died in 2005 at the age of 84.

“The canonization of Karol Wojtyla will be the crowning glory of the recent history of Catholicism, linking the last three pontificates,” Saverio Gaeta, who wrote a biography of John Paul II, told La Stampa newspaper.

Poland Religion