How to become a saint

Could Saint John of London soon be on the shop shelves with Saint Child of Prague, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Mary of Lourdes and Saint Pio of Montalcino? Photograph: Marianna Bertagnolli/AP

Is it a little parochial to care which nationality saints are? It may not cut much ice in any kingdom of heaven, but Catholics down in the United Kingdom can cross their fingers for the first new British saint in 40 years.

The claim to sainthood of John Henry Newman, a London-born 19th century cardinal, is currently being examined by a Vatican committee, the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints in Rome.

So how do would-be saints get to be in that number?