He helped Christians not to be afraid to be called Christian

John Paul II is blessed for his strong and generous apostolic faith,." He is 'Blessed "because he believed" and already "the fragrance of his sanctity" was perceived at his funeral. Thus, Benedict XVI introduced his homily at Mass for the beatification of John Paul II, before more than a million faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and surrounding streets. Words spoken after the beatification formula and the unveiling of the tapestry depicting the new blessed, a photo dating to 1995, to rapturous applause.