In Peggy’s defense, the title is not quite her admonition, but a translation of the crowds’ cry at JPII’s funeral:
And when he died, there was the miracle of the crowds. John Paul had been old and dying for a long time, and the Vatican knew he’d been forgotten. They didn’t plan for crowds.
But when he died, people came running. They dropped what they were doing and filled the streets of Rome, they got on trains and plans and Rome was engulfed.
Four million people came.
They travelled from every country in Europe and beyond, they had nowhere to sleep, they filled the streets carrying candles.
There had never been anything like it. Old Rome had seen its popes come and go, but the crowds came and wouldn’t leave until he was buried. And when his coffin was carried out and shown to them, they roared.
“Santo Subito!” they said. Make him a saint.
And now this weekend he will be beatified, a step toward sainthood. He will become Blessed John Paul the Second, and nobody will misunderstand his name.
“Santo Subito!” they said. Make him a saint.