France, April 19 -- The reported healing of an Italian woman during a pilgrimage to Lourdes has been officially recognised as the 72nd "miracle" linked to the Catholic shrine in south-western France.

The bishop of Tursi-Lagonegro, a diocese in southern Italy, made the announcement this week - just ahead of Easter.

Antonietta Raco, 67, reported a sudden recovery in 2009 during a visit to Lourdes.

At the time, she had been living with primary lateral sclerosis since 2004. The illness affects the nervous system and had made it difficult for her to walk or breathe.

"I walked with crutches, I had muscle pain, I kept falling all the time and I didn't know why," she told French radio station RTL.A prayer and a voice

In 2009, Raco joined a f...