French nun sister Marie Simon-Pierre gives a press conference, on January 17, 2011 in Aix-en-Provence, southern France. Late pope John Paul II is to be beatified on May 1, 2011 -- a key step on the path to sainthood -- the Vatican announced on January 13, 2011, after Pope Benedict XVI signed an official decree. The beatification follows the announcement this week that the Congregation of the Causes for Saints had approved the Polish pope's first miracle. The commission confirmed that French nun Marie Simon-Pierre was miraculously cured of Parkinson's disease through the intercession of John Paul II, who also suffered from Parkinson's.
AFP PHOTO/GERARD JULIEN