Pope John Paul II nears sainthood (20 images)

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI formally credited a miracle to his predecessor, paving the way for Pope John Paul II to be beatified May 1, the Vatican said Friday.

The Vatican said the late John Paul II miraculously cured a nun who reportedly had Parkinson's disease, the BBC reported.

Here is a look back at a few memorable moments with Pope John Paul II from the UPI News Picture Archives.

Pope John Paul II enters the gates of Auschwitz concentration camp here 6/7. The sign above the gate reads, "Arbeit Macht Frei". The Pope visited the cell in block No. 11 where Father Kolbe died giving his life in exchange for one of the other prisoners.

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Actor Clint Eastwood looks at Pope John Paul II as the Pope greeted the man who is also the mayor of Carmel, CA, where the Pope will visit the Carmel Mission.

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Pope John Paul II smiles broadly during a visit to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. It was the Pontiff's first stop after arrival here for a brief two day visit.

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Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in a military hospital outside Paris early on November 11, 2004. He was 75 years old. This photo shows Arafat and Pope John Paul II meeting at the Papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Aug. 2, 2001. (UPI Photo/Palestinian Authority)

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