Pope John Paul II is seen in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, while celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff in the Sistine Chapel. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II is seen in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, while celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff in the Sistine Chapel. (Ap Photo)

Overhead view shows the scene inside Sistine Chapel Oct. 17, 1978 when a mass was celebrated one day after the conclavists had elected 58-year-old former archbishop of Krakow, Poland, the new Pope John Paul II. Behind the altar in background the famous Michelangelo fresco

Pope John Paul II gestures as he walks out the Sistine Chapel, Oct. 17,1978, after a mass has been celebrated, a day after the conclavists had elected the 58 year old former archbishop of Krakow, Poland, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, to be head of the 700-million Catholics in the world. Pope John Paul II is the first non-Italian Pope since 450 years. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II is seen in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, while celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff in the Sistine Chapel. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II smiling and blessing cardinals in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, as he leaves Sistine Chapel after celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II smiling and blessing cardinals in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, as he leaves Sistine Chapel after celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II is seen in Vatican City, Oct. 17, 1978, while celebrating special mass for his election as Roman Catholic Pontiff in the Sistine Chapel. (Ap Photo)

Three picture combo shows the new elected Pope John Paul II on the balcony clasping his hands while acknowledging the cheers from the crowd at St. Peter's Square, Oct. 16, 1978 shortly after he has been elected as the new Pontiff by the name of Pope John Paul II. The 58-year-old former archbishop of Krakow, Poland, is the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for the new Pontiff, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II waves to dignitaries and cardinals at St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for the new Pontiff, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. With him are left and right Msgr. Cochetti and Msgr. Noe, both from the pontifical ceremonies office. In background Italian cardinal Oddi. (Ap Photo)

Newly elected Pope John Paul II greets the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter's basilica during his first appearance as the new Pontiff, Oct. 16, 1978. Extreme left is polish Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. Between the Pope and Wyszynski, msgr. Virgilio Noe, master of the pontifical ceremonies office. At right is Italian cardinal Pericle Felici. (Ap Photo)

Once again the conclavists failed to elect a successor for late Pope John Paul I, Oct. 16, 1978, after the sixth balloting, clearly to be seen by tens of thousands watching the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, where billows of black smoke came out. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II greets the cheering crowd filling St. Peter's Square Oct. 16, 1978 shortly after the conclavists decided to vote for the former archbishop of Krakow, Poland, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, as the successor to late Pope John Paul I. The new head of the Catholic Church is the first non-Italian Pope since 450 years. The Pontiff is flanked from l/r by Polish cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Msgr. Cocchetti of the pontifical ceremonies office, Cardinal Bertoli of Italy, Cardinal Siri of Italy, Msgr. Noe of the pontifical ceremonies office, unidentified and Italian cardinal Samore. (Ap Photo)

Polish citizens are among the Pope watchers in St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for Pope John Paul II, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. (Ap Photo)

Italian cardinal Oddi, extreme right, and Msgr. Virgilio Noe of the Vatican pontifical ceremonies office fix the woollen pallium at Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for the new Pontiff, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. (Ap Photo)

Karol Cardinal Wojtyla from Poland has been elected Oct. 16, 1978 as the 264th Pope, and is pictured Oct. 3, 1978 in Vatican City, a day before the funeral of late Pope John Paul I. The new Pope has chosen the name Pope John Paul II. (Ap Photo)

Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for the new Pontiff, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. (Ap Photo)

Polish citizens are among the Pope watchers in St. Peter's Square during the official installation ceremonies for Pope John Paul II, in Vatican City, Oct. 22, 1978. (Ap Photo)

Newly elected Pope John Paul II waves from the balcony to cheering crowd shortly after the 58-year-old former archbishop of Krakow, Poland, had been elected the new Pontiff, Oct. 16, 1978. He is the first non-Italian Pope since Adrian VI, who died in 1523. The Pontiff is flanked from l/r by Polish cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Msgr. Cocchetti of the pontifical ceremonies office, Cardinal Bertoli of Italy, Cardinal Siri of Italy, Msgr. Noe of the pontifical ceremonies office, unidentified and Italian cardinal Samore. (Ap Photo)