Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a Mass marking the third anniversary of the death of John Paul II, evoking the possibility of his predecessor’s sainthood by praising his “many human and supernatural qualities.” While the Vatican normally waits five years after a person’s death, two years ago Benedict placed John Paul on an accelerated schedule for beatification, the first step toward sainthood.

One miracle is required, and amid scores of letters urging the Vatican to beatify John Paul, a French nun has claimed that she was cured of Parkinson’s disease after praying to him. Before dying at age 84, he suffered for years from the same disease.