Pope Francis continues to keep us on our toes. We can never be certain what surprises he will spring upon us. There was the culmination of another illustration this past weekend with the canonizations of two of the most influential popes of the last half-century or so. The People of God can now officially call upon the intercession of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II. The canonization of two popes on the same day is an unprecedented moment in the life of the Church. But we’ve come to expect the unprecedented from the Jesuit Pope. He threw out the playbook on day #1 of his papacy.

There is widespread conviction both within and outside the Church that the recognition of both popes is a shrewd decision to try and please various political factions with the Church and society. One writer sums it up as a “political balancing act.” There is John XXIII who called the Second Vatican Council and famously wanted to “throw open the doors of the Church and let the fresh air of the Spirit blow through.”

John Paul II’s papacy is seen by many as an attempt to close those doors and make the Church into a more restricted community. So, the argument goes, both popes have been recognized, because to canonize only one would be sending the wrong message to the People of God. This move keeps everyone happy!

But let’s not get lost in the political labels, thereby forgetting the true contributions of both John XXIII and John Paul II. They cannot be easily reduced to words such as liberal and conservative, progressive and retrograde. Pope John was an Italian pastor, bishop and Vatican diplomat noted for his humility and simplicity. He was characterized by boldness and courage, qualities that inevitably draw comparisons to the present pope. Il papa buono is best remembered for initiating the Second Vatican Council and the renewal of the Church.

John Paul was a man of steel, tried through his battles with Communist authorities in Poland. The “witness to hope” is remembered for his papacy, for his charismatic personality, for his extensive travels throughout the world, for his active engagement with the world, and for his role in the collapse of Communism.

The Church has never said that saints are perfect. It’s just that the total picture of their lives offers an example of faith that provides us with hope. From the days of Simon Peter on, there has never been a perfect pope. As a matter of fact, we are well aware that some of them were marked by sinfulness rather than sanctity.

Since his papacy was so lengthy, we’re very aware of questions about John Paul’s perfection. He has his critics. For instance, writing in the New York Times a few days ago, Maureen Dowd (who’s as acerbic as Margaret Wente, a popular columnist in the Globe and Mail) lambasted John Paul II. Her view is summed up: “Given that he presided over the Catholic Church during nearly three decades of a gruesome pedophilia scandal and grotesque cover-up, he ain’t no saint.” Read her column: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/opinion/dowd-a-saint-he-aint.html?_r=0. Others think it’s too soon to canonize John Paul II. He may have had a strong impact on the world, but his papacy needs to stand the test of time. Wherever we stand, today we have two more saints we can call upon for help.