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The popes · No. 263 of 267

John Paul I

The smiling pope who reigned for thirty-three days.

Pope 1978

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A black and white photograph of Pope John Paul I smiling, 1978.

Anefo, 1978. Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

Home / The popes / John Paul I

Rome, 26 August 1978

On the second day of the conclave, the patriarch of Venice is elected pope.1

Albino Luciani takes two names at once, John Paul, honouring the two popes before him.1

He came from a mountain village in the Dolomites. Thirty-three days later, he was gone.

01John Paul I

A child in danger

Luciani was born on 17 October 1912 at Canale d’Agordo and baptized at home by the midwife the same day, because he was in danger of death.1

He became a teacher, a bishop and then patriarch of Venice.1

02John Paul I

Thirty-three days

He began his pastoral service on 3 September and died on 28 September 1978.1

One month was enough for the world to fall in love with a smile.

The next pope came from a country behind the Iron Curtain.

Notes

  1. Biography of Pope John Paul I. Holy See, official English text. vatican.va

The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) is in the public domain; we quote the New Advent edition. Texts of the Holy See are quoted briefly from vatican.va. Scripture: Douay-Rheims, Challoner revision (public domain). Photographs: Wikimedia Commons, credited under each image; full list on the photo credits page.

Lines in the narrator’s voice, without a note, are our reflection, not a historical claim. Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words; our wording is not an official Church text. Report an error.