Pope John Paul II holds crucifix and a sprig of olive as he waves to pilgrims and faithful while touring St. Peter's square after he celebrated Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican Sunday, March 23 1997. Palm Sunday, which begins the Catholic Church's most solemn period, marks Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, before his crucifixion. (Ap Photo/Plinio Lepri)

1997 Krakow Pielgrzymka Papieza Jana Pawla II do Polski N/z Papiez Jan Pawel II fot. Wojciech Druszcz/East News

FILE--Pope John Paul II prays intensely during the feast of the Immaculate Conception at the Spanish Steps in Rome, December 8, 1995. (AP Photo/Giulio Broglio/FILE)

Pope John Paul II attends a meeting with the young after celebrating a mass in the Roman parish church of Santa Maria della Speranza (St. Mary of the Hope) in Rome, Sunday, January 19, 1997. (AP Photo/Giulio Broglio)

Pope John Paul II blesses the faithful in the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rome where he celebrated a traditional thanksgiving Te Deum mass, marking the end of 1996, Tuesday December 31, 1996. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

Pope John Paul II gives his ''Urbi et Orbi'' (Latin for to the City and to the World) Christmas' Day blessing from the main balcony of the St. Peter's Basilica facade Wednesday, December 25, 1996. The pontiff wished Christmas peace and joy in 55 languages. (AP Photo/Arturo Mari, Pool)

Pope John Paul II waves as he enters St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Sunday, November 10, 1996. The Pontiff, and priests he invited from around the world, celebrated their golden ordination anniversaries with a solemn mass and a joyous festival of music on the basilica's steps. (AP Photo/Giulio Broglio)

Pope John Paul II gives his blessing during a solemn mass inside St. Peters Basilica Sunday, November 10 1996. The Pontiff, and priests he invited from around the world, celebrated their golden ordination anniversaries with a solemn mass and a joyous festival of music on the basilica's steps. (Ap Photo/Giulio Broglio)

Pope John Paul II waves to the fathful from St. Peter's Basilica's main altar during a mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination as priest, Friday November 1, 1996, at the Vatican. The 76-year-old pontiff appeared in good health during the more than two-hour Mass, his longest public appearence since surgery to remove an inflamed appendix. (AP Photo/Bruno Mosconi)

Pope John Paul II waves from his open car as he leaves the Gemelli Hospital after doctors pronounced him well-healed from surgery Tuesday October 15, 1996. The Pontiff underwent surgery to romove an inflamed appendix on October 6. (AP Photo/Danilo Schiavella)

Pope John Paul II delivers a special greeting to the faithful gathered under his window at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome Sunday, Oct. 13, 1996, after the traditional noon Angelus. He jokingly referred to the hospital as

Pope John Paul II delivers a special greeting to the faithful gathered under his window at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome Sunday, Oct. 13, 1996, after the traditional noon Angelus. He jokingly referred to the hospital as "Vatican number three," after St. Peter's and his summer residence at Castelgandolfo, given his numerous visits to the hospital in the last years. It is the first time the Pope has been seen since his appendectomy. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)

Pope John Paul II has this intensive expression during the beatification ceremony in St. Peter's Square where 16 people were elevated toward possible sainthood, at the Vatican Sunday, October 6, 1996. The 76-y-old pontiff is scheduled to enter the hospital late Sunday in preparation for an operation to remove an inflamed appendix. (AP Photo/Bruno Mosconi)

Pope John Paul II prays during the beatification ceremony in St. Peter's Square where 16 people were elevated toward possible sainthood, at the Vatican Sunday, October 6, 1996. The 76-y-old pontiff is scheduled to enter the hospital late Sunday in preparation for an operation to remove an inflamed appendix. (AP Photo/Bruno Mosconi)

Pope John Paul II waves to faithful during a group audience at the Vatican Saturday, October 5, 1996. The Pope addressed 25,000 pilgrims from an organization of prayer groups based on the teachings of Padre Pio, a 20th-century monk revered for medical miracles. The pontiff might be hospitalized in Rome Sunday Oct. 6 to undergo an appendix operation. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

FILE--Pope John Paul II prays intensely during the feast of the immaculate conception at the Spanish Steps in Rome, December 8, 1995. (AP Photo/Giulio Broglio/FILE)

Pope John Paul II stands up from a prayer chair with the help of his arms after praying on the tomb of St Remi in St. Remi basilica in Reims, eastern France, Sunday Sept. 22, 1996. Pope John Paul II is concluding a four-day visit to France, where he celebrated three grand masses in front of hundred of thousands of worshippers. (AP PHOTO/POOL/Jerome Delay)

Pope John-Paul II holds his chin during the mass in Reims, eastern France Sunday, September 22, 1996. About 160,000 worshippers attended the mass in Reims at the last day of his four-day visit in France. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)

Pope John Paul II prays on the tomb of St Remi in St. Remi basilica in Reims, eastern France, Sunday Sept. 22, 1996. Pope John Paul II is concluding a four-day visit to France, where he celebrated three grand masses in front of thousands of worshippers. (AP PHOTO/POOL/Jerome Delay)

Pope John-Paul II holds his chin during the mass in Reims, eastern France Sunday, September 22, 1996. About 160,000 worshippers attended the mass in Reims at the last day of his four-day visit in France. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)