Pope John Paul II celebrated his 83rd birthday during a canonization mass before thousands of faithful and in presence of the Savoy Royal family in Rome, Italy on May 18th, 2003 [Getty Images]

VATICAN - MAY 18: The Savoy royal family: Emanuele Filiberto, Marina Doria and Vittorio Emanuele welcoming the pope in Rome, Italy on May 18th, 2003 (Photo by Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) — see more

VATICAN - MAY 18: The Savoy royal family: Emanuele Filiberto, Marina Doria and Vittorio Emanuele welcoming the pope in Rome, Italy on May 18th, 2003 (Photo by Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Gamma-Rapho Eric VANDEVILLE