Pope Benedict recognized John Paul II as living a life of heroic virtue upon the recommendation of the Congregation for Saints. There are various steps the Church takes when she investigates someone for possible canonization. This is the second of four of the steps, next being "beatification." The Church will now refer to John Paul as the "Venerable Servant of God ..." but there is no public ceremonial for bestowing this title as there is when a person is beatified or canonized.Also, in an extraordinary move, the Pope recognized the the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII!
The Holy Father also acknowledged that God has made a new saint for the Church: Blessed Mary Mackillop. Blessed Mary was an Australian sister, foundress and educator born in 1842 and died in 1909. In the face of great hardship encountered as the result of a nasty bishop, she was excommunicated for about year but Mother Mary of the Cross was virtuous throughout the ordeal. The bishop, an alcoholic received Mother Mary back into full communion on his deathbed. John Paul beatified Mother Mary in 1995 and she has wide acclaim. She is Australia's first saint.
A canonized saint in the Catholic Church is a declaration of moral certitude and therefore an infallible statement of the Church, that that person does enjoy, as far as it's humanly possible to say, beatitude with the Blessed Trinity. Hence, a saint is "made."
A Wiki article on Mary Mackillop is found here.
Also, made a saint is Blessed Andre Bessett!!!
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