With the Canonisations of Popes John Paul II and John XXII coming up, a lot of people may be wondering why Catholics honour Saints at all? Why do we need to pray to the Saints when we can go directly to God? Fr. Robert Barron answers in this question in this video.

Blessed John XXIII was the 260th successor of St. Peter, serving as pope from October 1958 to June 1963. He is best known for convening the Second Vatican Council.

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The longest reigning pope in modern history, John Paul II, took his message on the road, visiting 129 countries -- several repeatedly - on 104 trips and logging more than 700,000 miles in a papacy that lasted more than 27 years. Blessed John Paul died at the age of 84 at the Vatican April 2, 2005, the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.

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The Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, was filled Tuesday with thousands of youths who had come to learn more about the two Bishops of Rome who will be canonized Sunday.

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Retired Pope Benedict XVI is expected to attend the canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II April 27, said Msgr. Liberio Andreatta, head of the Vatican-related pilgrim agency, Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi. "Never before have there been two popes canonized and two popes living," he said at a news conference in Rome April 23 to discuss final plans and preparations for pilgrims. "You can imagine their emotions!"

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Blessed John XXIII, who will be made a saint April 27, is remembered by many for his warmth, simplicity, social conscience and sense of humor. The Italian Pope John was guided by his cheerful disposition, his simple, peasant background and tongue-in-cheek, wisecracking Italian culture. For example, in reply to a reporter who asked, "How many people work in the Vatican?", John XXIII reportedly said: "About half of them."

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Former Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell, who is currently the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy in the Vatican, reflects on the legacies of John Paul II and John XXIII in the lead up to their canonisation.

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For an hour and 22 minutes, Pope Francis held an improvised press conference on his flight back from Brazil. He answered all types of questions, including his thoughts on the future canonization of John XXIII.

The papacies of John XXIII and John Paul II are connected in their dedication to God and to lives of priestly service, a cardinal who worked with both of the pontiffs stressed.

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Declaring someone a saint takes many years. But what is actually involved? Each canonisation includes a long process that is divided in several phases. The first one is carried out by the local diocese of the candidate.