Late Pope to popstar for sainthood?

LONDON: A DVD aiming at hastening late Pope John Paul II’s path to sainthood, which the Vatican is to launch soon, will show the pontiff singing like a music star.

The DVD is titled Santo Subito, a reference to the Latin proclamation “Make him a saint now!”, which was chanted by crowds at the pontiff’s funeral in 2005. British composer Simon Boswell, whose work normally features in Hollywood movies, was employed by the Church to write the music for the DVD. He has clarified that the project is not a documentary about the former Pope.

“It’s very difficult to describe because it’s not a documentary — it is a celebration of the life of John Paul II, in images which have been artistically manipulated,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

It is thought to be the first time internet technology has been harnessed by the Church to enable web users to express their views about a potential future saint.