St John Paul Ii

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish former extremist who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II, on Saturday laid flowers on the late pontiff's tomb.

Being made a saint of the Catholic Church is no easy feat and the conclusion of a drawn-out process following a candidate's death, usually involving having two Vatican-recognized "miracles" attributed to you.

Pope Francis is preparing for a historic encounter with his predecessor Benedict XVI on Saturday - the first time in Church history that a pontiff will come face to face with a former one, with both expected to wear the papal white vestments.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish former extremist who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II, on Saturday laid flowers on the late pontiff's tomb.

Being made a saint of the Catholic Church is no easy feat and the conclusion of a drawn-out process following a candidate's death, usually involving having two Vatican-recognized "miracles" attributed to you.

Pope Francis is preparing for a historic encounter with his predecessor Benedict XVI on Saturday - the first time in Church history that a pontiff will come face to face with a former one, with both expected to wear the papal white vestments.