Medical and church experts have recognised a miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II, paving the way for the penultimate stage in the process to make the late pontiff a saint, an Italian newspaper reported Tuesday.

The decision will be formally communicated to the Vatican later this month, and then to Pope Benedict XVI for his final approval, according to the Milan-based daily Il Giornale.

The 'miracle' involves a 44-year-old French nun suffering from Parkinson's disease, veteran Italian Vatican-observer Andrea Tornielli wrote in Il Giornale.

John Paul is currently a candidate for beatification, the last step before being canonised, or recognised as a saint, by the Catholic Church. Benedict is very likely to approve the findings of the commission, and could set a date for his predecessor's beatification later this year, according to Tornielli.

But before a person is beatified and given the title 'blessed,' by the pope, the Vatican's saint-making department must obtain proof that a miracle has taken place with the candidate's intercession.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1609313.php/Miracle-puts-John-Paul-II-s-sainthood-back-on-track