Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the status of “blessed” on his predecessor John Paul II today in front of a cheering crowd of over a million people. This has put the late pope on the path to sainthood.A giant banner bearing a youthful portrait of the Polish pontiff was unveiled over the facade of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City after Benedict pronounced the formula of beatification just six years after John Paul's death.The pope declared October 22 as a day for the veneration of John Paul II.John Paul was elected pope in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pontiff in more than four centuries. He became known for his frequent trips and succeeded in giving new strength to the Church before illness sapped his energies.He died on April 2, 2005, suffering from an acute case of Parkinson's.