Gorbachev agrees John Paul II should be declared as saint

Former USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev said he agrees that the former head of the Catholic Church John Paul II should be canonized.

"I think he should be. He was an amazing person. A humanist, I am ready to give him a thumbs up," Gorbachev told journalists on Thursday.

"I spoke to John Paul II on several occasions and noticed that on many issues the Pope had his own point of view, which I thought was absolutely right," Gorbachev said.

In particular, John Paul II said that, "Europe must breathe with both lungs," he said. "That means that Europe's west and east must be its equal and valid parts. This is absolutely right," said the former USSR leader.

He also recalled what John Paul II said about the new world order. "He said that this order must be more stable, fair and humane. I must have repeated this quote about 100 times everywhere," Gorbachev said.

Interfax, 21.05.2009