PARIS, MARCH 11, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The cure of a French nun, which is being studied as a possible miracle through the intercession of John Paul II, has not been reversed, contrary to media reports.
This was affirmed in a communiqué signed by Father Luc Marie Lalanne, chancellor of the archbishop of Aix-Arles, France, which was published Wednesday on the Web site of the French bishops’ conference.
Some media reports claimed that the nun, Sister Marie Simon Pierre, who was cured from Parkinson’s disease, is ill again. In this way they assert that the «cure» is false.
The communiqué stated, however, that these reports are wrong, and that the alleged miracle is still being studied by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.
Father Lalanne affirmed, «On behalf of the Congregation of Little Sisters of Catholic Motherhood and of the archbishopric of Aix-en-Provence, I categorically deny this rumor.»
«Sister Marie Simon Pierre continues to be at this time in a perfect state of health,» he stated.
People who work with the 48-year-old nun in a maternity ward in Paris affirmed that she is well.
The chancellor’s communiqué noted, «As the Vatican press office stated recently, the Roman process on this possible miraculous cure is in its initial phase and continues on track in the normal way, with the seriousness and precision exacted by the preliminary investigations for recognition of a miracle.»
Sister Pierre’s cure, which took place in June of 2005, was investigated by the Archdiocese of Aix-Arles beginning in 2007, since the nun was at that time working in that region.
Although Benedict XVI granted permission to waive the required five years waiting period before beginning John Paul II’s cause of beatification, the process is being subjected to all the other requirements. Among these is the recognition of a cure that is inexplicable by a medical commission, recognized afterwards as a «miracle» by a theological commission, made up of cardinals, bishops and the Pope himself.
Polish Monsignor Slawomir Oder, postulator of Karol Wojtyla’s cause for beatification, explained on March 27, 2007, that the case of Sister Pierre was chosen, among many others submitted, for two reasons: She was cured of the illness that the Pope himself suffered and, after her recovery, she has been able to continue dedicating her life in the maternity wards to «the battle for the dignity of life,» which the Pontiff also fought during his lifetime with his teaching and ministry.
