VATICAN CITY, March 5 (UPI) -- A French nun's return to illness could delay the canonization of Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict XVI put his predecessor on the fast track for sainthood almost immediately, and there had been speculation John Paul would be beatified on Oct. 16, the anniversary of his election to the papacy, the Guardian reports. The Vatican has now scheduled the canonization of six saints on Oct. 17, which would bar a beatification the day before.


To become a saint requires evidence of posthumous miracles. Sister Marie Simon-Pierre said three years ago she had been relieved of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease after praying to John Paul, who also suffered from Parkinson's.

Now, a Polish newspaper, Rzeczpospolita, reports Simon-Pierre's symptoms have returned. The newspaper also said her doctor, on his Web site, suggested she did not suffer from Parkinson's but from a disease with the same symptoms that is known to go into remission.

Vatican sources told the Guardian a panel had been scheduled to meet in April to examine Simon-Pierre's reported cure.