VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope John Paul II chose six people from Europe and Latin America on Sunday as candidates for sainthood, saying they were courageous role models for Catholics.
Of the six people beatified during the ceremony in St. Peter's Square, three lived in the 20th century. Three of the six were Italian priests, while two others were Latin American nuns.
Beatification, the last formal step before possible sainthood, requires evidence of one miracle after the person's death, except in the case of martyrs. Non-martyrs are canonized a saint after one more miracle.
John Paul now has beatified 1,288 candidates for sainthood in his 23 years as pontiff.
He also has canonized 456 people, including some he beatified.
Three of those honored Sunday were Italian priests who founded religious orders. Another was an Italian whose family emigrated to Argentina and later, as a lay worker for a religious organization, helped the sick there.
Another was a nun, Maria Romero Meneses, who was born in Nicaragua and performed her religious work in Costa Rica.
Another woman, Maria del Transito de Jesus Sacramentado Villegas, founded an order of Franciscan nuns and is the first Argentine woman to be beatified, the pope said.
The six candidates led lives of goodness and "became enthusiastic and courageous witnesses before the world," the pope said.
Speaking of Romero Meneses, John Paul expressed hope that the "beloved Central American people may find in the newly beatified, who loved them so much, abundant examples and instruction to renew and fortify the Christian life, so rooted in those lands."
At the end of the ceremony, Pope John Paul II made a pitch to people to do good works themselves. Noting that Sunday had been designated Organ Donation and Transplant Day, he said he hoped that "the solidarity of many would give hope to the many sick people waiting for a transplant."
John Paul has suffered his own health problems recently. The pope, who turns 82 next month, has canceled appearances or cut back on his participation in long ceremonies because of knee pain.
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including slurred speech and a hand tremor, have made it difficult for the pontiff to lead ceremonies, but on Sunday his voice and appearance seemed stronger than they have recently.