Pope John Paul II today formally approved the recognition of miracles that will pave the way for canonization of Padre Pio, Juan Diego, and Msgr. Josemaria Escriva, among others.

In a ceremony at the Vatican, in the presence of the Holy Father, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints announced a series of 13 decrees concerning candidates for beatification or canonization. The Pope then confirmed the decrees, giving them formal status.

Five of these decrees involved the confirmation of miracles that had been granted through the intercession of candidates who have already been beatified; in these cases, the approval of the miracle fulfills the last condition necessary for canonization. The five to be canonized are:

- Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887- 1968), the Italian Capuchin monk and stigmatist, who gained international fame as a confessor and mystic;

- Msgr. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (1902- 1975), the Spanish founder of Opus Dei, which now claims a membership of over 80,000 people-- mostly laity-- committed to the sanctification of daily life;

- Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin (1474- 1548), the Mexican native to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Guadalupe;

- Ignazio da Santhia (1686- 1770), also an Italian Capuchin; and

- Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello (1791-1858), the Italian founder of the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence.

Canonization ceremonies for all five are expected during the course of next year. The ceremonies will not be scheduled until a meeting of the "ordinary consistory"-- the cardinals present in Rome-- in February.

The next set of four decrees recognized miracles attributed to candidates who will now be cleared for beatification:

- Ludovico Pavoni (1784-1849), an Italian priest;

- Marco Antonio Durando (1801-1880), also an Italian priest;

- Luigi Variara (1875-1923), also an Italian priest; and

- Maria Cristina dell'Immacolata Concezione (1856-1906), an Italian religious.

Finally, four decrees recognized the "heroic virtue" of candidates who, by virtue of that decree, will now be eligible for beatification if a miracle is approved. They are:

- Juan Nepomuceno Zegri Moreno (1831-1905), a Spanish priest;

- Pietro Legaria Armendariz (1878-1956), also a Spanish priest;

- Bruno Marchesini (1915-1938), an Italian, priest; and

- Maria Ludovica (1880-1962), an Italian religious.