KUWAIT: Filipinos in Kuwait were delighted to witness the beatification of late John Paul II yesterday at the Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City. The beatification ceremony was witnessed by millions of people around the world, especially in the Philippines, where over 95 percent of its 92 million population follow the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

The beatification became possible after the Vatican confirmed a miracle attributed to John Paul's intercession - the unexplained healing of a French nun, Marie Simon-Pierre, from Parkinson's Disease. But the church has to certify a second miracle before Pope John Paul can be declared a saint.

Epifanio Santiago, 62, from Conception Tarlac, shared his personal devotion to Pope John Paul II via telephone from Mina Abdullah area where he works as an Equipment Engineering supervisor. "I was really moved when I heard that he is now just a step away from becoming a saint. I was eagerly waiting for it," he told Kuwait Times.

Even when he was alive, I considered him a living saint. Every time I came across his pictures, I bowed my head before him and prayed. I have a large collection of Pope John Paul II's photos and most of them are pictures when he visited the Philippines. I am the happiest person to hear about his beatification," he ecstatically shared .

In my old age now, I am still very energetic. I know that God is protecting me and my devotion to John Paul is something extraordinary that I want to share with the rest of the world; especially the way I get this extra strength just by looking at his picture," he added. Father Fred Micua, Filipino Parish Priest at Ahmadi's Our Lady of Arabia Church recalled his first meeting with John Paul at the Vatican. "I only had one chance encounter with late Pope John Paul in Rome," Micua recounted.

It was a very pleasing experience and I treasure it in my heart. I can attest to his holiness... he really exudes holiness and saintly charisma," he reiterated. Micua noted the warm embrace and fatherly approach of John Paul II when he was alive. "The love and gentle attitude of Pope John Paul II when he was alive was very evident.

That is why Pope John Paul has a special place in the hearts of Filipino people," he said. Asked if there are special masses held in the Catholic Church in Kuwait reserved or offered to John Paul II, he said "There are some special tributes and remembrances but not to the level of a saint; but we respect him so much - especially after 27 years of service in the Holy Church," he said.

Pope Benedict XVI bestowed the status of "blessed" on John Paul II at the Vatican six years after his death. John Paul's papacy was a remarkable tenure, during which the Pope survived an assassination attempt in 1981. He also built ties with Judaism and Islam and apologized for the sins of the Catholic Church. John Paul was elected pope in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pontiff in more than four centuries. He became known for his extensive foreign travel and succeeded in giving new strength to the church before he succumbed to illness. He died on April 2, 2005, in an acute case of Parkinson's Disease at the age of 84 years. - Kuwait times