Father Adam Lech recalls the very first time he met Pope John Paul II. It's a meeting he credits to changing his outlook on life.

It's just not local Catholics who are celebrating the beatification of the pope on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on Vatican City as the journey to sainthood is about to happen for Pope John Paul II.

"He opened my mind to see that we are all brothers and sisters," said Father Lech.

There are fond memories of the man inside St. Joseph Basilica Church. The pope visited back in 1984.

"His visit encouraged so many people to be faithful to God," said Father Lech. "To rediscover their roots, their catholic roots."

The late pope convoyed to the downtown church; prayed inside those walls. Father Lech was fortunate enough to be able to meet the pope twice.

A monument still stands inside St. Joseph's Basilica, commemorating the City's papal visit. As far as if Father Lech thinks there's a visit in store for Pope Benedict, he says that might never happen for some time.

"He's a wonderful leader, but he's 84," said Father Lech. "He has to save a little strength."

Pope Benedict will reside over the beatification on Sunday in Rome. It's that excitement that has brought over thousands of people from all around the world to witness the religious event.

On Saturday, the crowd listened as a French nun who suffered from Parkinson's disease recounted how she was cured after praying to John Paul II, who also battled the same disease.

The Vatican has decreed that Sister Marie Simone-Pierre's inexplicable healing was the miracle needed to beatify John Paul.

Benedict put John Paul on the fast-track for possible sainthood when he dispensed with the traditional five-year waiting period and allowed the beatification process to begin weeks after his April 2, 2005 death. Benedict was responding to chants of "Santo Subito" or "Sainthood Immediately" which erupted during John Paul's funeral.

Another miracle is required to proclaim John Paul II a saint.

With files from CTV's Sean Amato and The Associated Press…