40 years ago: Cardinal Luciani elected Pope
40 years ago Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected Pope, assuming the name Pope John Paul I. He became one of the shortest-lived popes in history.
It was on August 26, 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, was elected Pope and took the name of John Paul I. Known as the ‘smiling Pope’, he was in office as a Pope for only 33 days due to his sudden death.
He was declared a Servant of God by his successor, John Paul II, on 23 November 2003, the first step on the road to sainthood. Pope Francis confirmed his heroic virtue on 8 November 2017 and named him Venerable.
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28 August 2018, 13:58
