When John Paul II died, some people came to the Vatican with banners proclaiming: “Santo Subito.” The translation is something like, “Make him a saint immediately.”

It has not been immediate, but as far as sainthood processes go, it is moving along at lightning speed. And according to reliable reports published today in Italy, everything is ready for Pope Benedict to approve a miracle performed through the intercession of John Paul II.

That would mean his predecessor could officially be declared “Blessed” sometime this year.

That’s known as the beatification ceremony, and is the last step before full-fledged sainthood. The event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to Rome, if not more.

John Paul crisscrossed the globe during much of his pontificate in an intense evangelization effort, revitalizing the Catholic Church in many ways.

And while some Catholics worry that too much of the sexual abuse scandal in the Church took place on his watch, and under bishops he appointed, Pope Benedict does not seem to doubt in the least John Paul’s holiness.

Smart Vatican watchers say look for the beatification ceremony to take place in Rome in October. Not exactly “Santo Subito,” but pretty close.