(FILES) Pope John Paul II waves as he is cheered by wellwishers after being welcomed by Czech President Vaclav Havel (R) at the airport of Praha-Ruzyne 25 April 1997. The pontiff arrived for a three-day visit to Czech Republic.

Pope John Paul II shakes hands with former U.S. President George Bush during a private audience at Castel Gandolfo, Pope's summer residence, Friday April 4, 1997. (AP Photo/Arturo Mari/HO)

Pope John Paul II and Cuban President Fidel Castro (R) shake hands during their historical meeting at the Vatican, 19 November 1996.

Pope John Paul II and Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) pose for photographers during their historical meeting at the Vatican, 19 November 1996.

Armando Caladron Sol, President of El Salvador, kneels as he kisses the ring of Pope John Paul II Thursday Feb. 8, 1996 in San Salvador at the Presidential residence. Others are unidentified. (AP PHOTO/Luis Galdamez/Pool)

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Pope John Paul II prays as he meets with French President Jacques Chirac during an audience held at the Vatican 20 January in the first state visit by a French President to the Vatican since Charles De Gaulle in 1959.

President Nelson Mandela (L) walks with Pope John Paul II after the pontiff's arrival at Johannesburg airport 16 September 1995. This is the Pope's first official visit to South Africa. AFP PHOTO WALTER DHLADHLA

Pope John Paul II and Diana, Princess of Wales are seen August 29, 1985 on occasion of the private audience at the Vatican with her husband Prince Charles. (AP Photo/Ron Bell)

Belgium's King Albert II reacts to a comment from Pope John Paul II in the royal palace at Laeken, a Brussels suburb, Saturday June 3, 1995. Pope John Paul II is visiting Belgium to beatify Father Damien, a Belgian missionary priest who lived and died among the lepers of Hawaii in the 19th century. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Pope John Paul II (L) and Polish President Lech Walesa talk as they meet in private at the residence of the Bishop of Bielsko-Zywiec, in Skoczow, Poland, 22 May. The Pontiff ended his three-day trip to the Czech Republic and his native Poland today. AFP PHOTO

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/WOJTEK LASKI Piata (najkrotsza) i nieoficjalna pielgrzymka papieza Jana Pawla II do Polski, msza swieta na wzgorzu Kaplicowka w Skoczowie - w czasie kilkugodzinnej wizyty papieza w Polsce, podczas jego 64. podrozy zagranicznej, Skoczow, 22.05.1995. N/Z: papiez Jan Pawel II odbiera Order Orla Bialego (przyznany mu w 1993) z rak prezydenta RP Lecha Walesy. On his 64th foreign tour the Pope visited his homeland for several hours. The mass at the Kaplicowka Hill (Chapel Hill) in Skoczow, POLAND, 22/05/1995. Pictured: pope John Paul II receives the Order of the White Eagle from the Polish president Lech Walesa. The order is Poland's highest decoration. It was awarded to Pope in 1993.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/WOJTEK LASKI Piata (najkrotsza) i nieoficjalna pielgrzymka papieza Jana Pawla II do Polski, msza swieta na wzgorzu Kaplicowka w Skoczowie - w czasie kilkugodzinnej wizyty papieza w Polsce, podczas jego 64. podrozy zagranicznej, Skoczow, 22.05.1995. N/Z: papiez Jan Pawel II odbiera Order Orla Bialego (przyznany mu w 1993) z rak prezydenta RP Lecha Walesy. On his 64th foreign tour the Pope visited his homeland for several hours. The mass at the Kaplicowka Hill (Chapel Hill) in Skoczow, POLAND, 22/05/1995. Pictured: pope John Paul II receives the Order of the White Eagle from the Polish president Lech Walesa. The order is Poland's highest decoration. It was awarded to Pope in 1993.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Pope John Paul II (L) and Czech President Vaclav Havel talk as they meet in a room of the Prague Castle 20 May. The Pontiff arrived here this morning for a three-day visit which will also take him to his native Poland.

US President Bill Clinton (L) speaks with Pope John Paul II during an audience at the Vatican 02 June 1994. During their meeting, the pontiff urged President Clinton and his administration "not to be insensitive to the value of life," as they discussed their differences on abortion.

Pope John Paul II (R) welcomes Japanese Emperor Akihito to his summer residence 03 September 1993 in Italy. The Japanese Emperor and Empress Michiko will spend six days in Italy.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP US President Bill Clinton points out people in the crowd to Pope John Paul II 12 August, 1993 upon the Pope's arrival in Denver,Colorado for a visit. AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA

U.S. President Bill Clinton points out people in the crowd to Pope John Paul II upon his arrival at Stapleton International airport 12 August 1993. The Pope is visiting the Mile High City to celebrate the World Youth Day.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Pope John Paul ll (R) welcomes the 1992 Nobel Peace prize winner Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala at the Vatican 21 Nov.

U.S. President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush exchange gifts with Pope John Paul II in a private meeting, Nov. 8, 1991 before the US President meets with other churchmen in the Vatican. (AP Photo/Denis Paquin)

PHOTO: LASKI DIFFUSION/EAST NEWS Spotkanie z papiezem Janem Pawlem II na Zamku Krolewskim w Warszawie podczas czwartej pielgrzymki Ojca Swietogo do Polski. Warszawa, 08.06.1991 N/Z: (od lewej) prezydent RP Lech Walesa, Jan Pawel II, szef kancelarii prezydenta Jaroslaw Kaczynski i minister w kancelarii prezydenta Lech Kaczynski.