Changes

Pope '''John Paul I''' ({{la icon}}: ''Ioannes Paulus PP. I'', {{it icon}}: ''Giovanni Paolo I''), born '''Albino Luciani''' (17 October 1912 – [[September 28]] 1978), reigned as the 263rd [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and as Sovereign of [[w:Vatican City |Vatican City]] from [[August 26]], 1978 until his death 33 days later. His sudden and mysterious death, the result of an apparent heart attack, has led to rumours of foul play that have periodically resurfaced.<ref name=BRITANNICA>"John Paul I." Encyclopædia Britannica. '''Encyclopædia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite.''' Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009.</ref><ref name=NORWICH>[[w:John Julius Norwich|John Julius Norwich]]. ''"WAS POPE JOHN PAUL I MURDERED? A sealed bed chamber. An archbishop with links to the Mafia. An embalming carried out with indecent - improper - haste... And one leading historian's burning question:."'' '''Mail on Sunday''' [London, England] 8 May 2011: 26.</ref><ref>Levi Fernandes. ''"Pope John Paul I assassinated over reform plans, author charges."'' '''Agence France Presse -- English.''' December 18, 2005 Sunday 4:38 AM GMT.</ref><ref>Tom Newton Dunn. ''"Was Murder Committed in the Vatican? Cardinal [[w:Aloísio Lorscheider|Aloisio Lorscheider]] Talks of Doubts Over the Death of Pope John Paul I."'' '''The Mirror.''' August 28, 1998, Friday. pg.8.</ref><ref>[[w:Eugene Kennedy|Eugene Kennedy]] (Professor of psychology at Loyola University). ''"Was The Pope Murdered?"'' '''The New York Times.''' November 5, 1989, Sunday, Late Edition - Final. Section 7; Page 15, Column 1; Book Review Desk.</ref><ref>''"Vulnerability of Popes who 'Step in the Way of Secret Societies'."'' '''BBC Summary of World Broadcasts''' (Text of commentary). June 14, 1984, Thursday.</ref><ref>''"Vatican Rejects Poison Charge as 'Fanciful'."'' '''The Miami Herald.''' June 13, 1984 Wednesday.</ref><ref name=GLOBE-OCT7>''"Several Questions Unanswered in Pope's Death."'' '''The Globe and Mail.''' Sunday October 7, 1978.</ref><ref name=TRIBUNE>''"[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/613208502.html?dids=613208502:613208502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+07%2C+1978&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Evidence+of+foul+play+in+Pope+death+claimed&pqatl=google Evidence of foul play in Pope death claimed]".'' '''Chicago Tribune'''. 7 October 1978.</ref> Pope John Paul I's charismatic reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent [[w:Year of Three Popes|Year of Three Popes]]. John Paul I He was also the first Pope to be born in the 20th century and the last Pope to die in it.

John Paul I was the first pope since Pius X (reigned 1903–14) to have a pastoral<ref>''"A Pastor for Pope."'' '''The Globe and Mail.''' Monday August 28, 1978.</ref> rather than a diplomatic or scholarly background.<ref name=BRITANNICA/> In [[Archdiocese of Italy and Malta|Italy]] he is remembered with the appellatives of "Il Papa del Sorriso" (''The Smiling Pope'')<ref name=Lauretta>Raymond and Lauretta. ''The Smiling Pope, The Life & Teaching of John Paul I.'' Our Sunday Visitor Press, 2004.</ref> and "Il Sorriso di Dio" (''The smile of God'').<ref>[http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0891862/combined Papa Luciani: Il sorriso di Dio] (Pope Luciani: The Smile of God). Radiotelevisione Italia 2006 documentary.</ref> ''Time'' magazine and other publications referred to him as ''The September Pope.''<ref>Time (Cover Story). ''[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919865,00.html The September Pope].'' Monday, 9 Oct 1978. Retrieved: 20 August 2012.</ref>

[[File:Venezia - Palazzo patriarcale - Lapide Giovanni Paolo I - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 8-Aug-2007.jpg|right|thumb|Tablet commemorating Luciani as Patriarch of Venice]].In 1947, he was named [[Protosyngellos|vicar general]] to Bishop [[w:Girolamo Bortignon|Girolamo Bortignon]], [[w:Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|OFM Cap]], of Belluno. Two years later, in 1949, he was placed in charge of diocesan [[Catechumen|catechetics]].

On [[December 15]], 1969, he was appointed [[w:Patriarch of Venice|Patriarch of Venice]] by Pope [[Paul VI of Rome|Paul VI]] and took possession of the [[Archdiocese]] on [[February 3]], 1970.  Pope Paul created Luciani [[w:Cardinal-Priest#Cardinal_priest|Cardinal-Priest]] of ''[[w:San Marco, Rome|San Marco, Rome]]'' in the [[w:Consistory|consistory]] on [[March 5]], 1973. On becoming a Cardinal, he said: ''"History is history. We must look to the future with fresh hopes and ideas."''<ref>''"Glassworker's son surprise choice for Pope."'' '''The Globe and Mail (Reuters).''' September 30, 1978.</ref> Catholics were struck by his [[humility]], a prime example being his embarrassment when Paul VI once removed his papal [[stole]] and put it on Patriarch Luciani. He recalls the occasion in his first ''Angelus '' thus:<ref name=ANGELUS1>[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_i/angelus/documents/hf_jp-i_ang_27081978_en.html "FIRST ANGELUS ADDRESS, Pope John Paul I"]. [[w:Vatican Publishing House|Libreria Editrice Vaticana]]. 27 August 1978. Retrieved 20 August 2012.</ref>

[[File:New Pope JP1.jpg|right|thumb|The newly elected Pope John Paul I (on left), with Monsignor [[w:Virgilio Noè|Virgilio Noè]], then Papal Master of Ceremonies.]]Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot of the [[w:Papal conclave, August 1978|August 1978]] [[w:Papal conclave|papal conclave]]. Senior Cardinal Deacon Pericle Felici announced that the Cardinals had elected Venice patriarch Albino Luciani to be Pope John Paul I.<ref>UPI.com. ''[http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1978/The-Election-of-Pope-John-Paul-II/12309251197005-5/ 1978 Year in Review: The Election of Pope John Paul II].'' Retrieved: 2012-08-20.</ref> He chose the [[w:Regnal name|regnal name]] of ''John Paul'', the first double name in the history of the papacy, explaining in his [[w:Angelus|Angelus]] that he took it as a thankful honour to his two immediate predecessors: John XXIII, who had named him a bishop, and [[Paul VI of Rome|Paul VI]], who had named him Patriarch of Venice and a [[w:Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].<ref name=THE-CONCLAVE>Gloria C. Molinari. ''[http://www.papaluciani.com/eng/conclave.htm The Conclave: 25 – 26 August 1978].'' Retrieved: 2012-08-20.</ref> He was also the first (and so far only) pope to use ''"the first"'' in his regnal name.<ref>[[w:David Yallop|Yallop, David]] (1985). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=xQYuAAAAYAAJ&redir_esc=y In God's name: an investigation into the murder of Pope John Paul I].'' p.75.</ref><ref group="note">The last original name was [[w:Pope Lando|Pope Landone]] in 913 A.D.</ref> <blockquote>"The choice of the name,...indicates he will work for the continued [[w:Aggiornamento|aggiornamento]] - renewal - of the church, as Pope John set it into motion, but, like [[Paul VI of Rome|Pope Paul]], will not allow either worldly pressures or the humanists within the church to allow that change to become disorderly."<ref>''"Catholic Church Gets Champion of the Poor; Combination of Names Hints New Pope's Direction."'' '''The Globe and Mail.''' Monday August 28, 1978.</ref></blockquote>

Outside the Italians, who were experiencing diminished influence within the increasingly internationalist [[w:College of Cardinals|College of Cardinals]], were figures like Cardinal [[John Paul II|Karol Wojtyła]].,<ref name="THE-CONCLAVE"/> and [[Benedict XVI|Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger]]. Over the days following the conclave, cardinals effectively declared that with general great joy they had elected "God's candidate".<ref name="THE-CONCLAVE"/> Argentine Cardinal [[w:Eduardo Francisco Pironio|Eduardo Francisco Pironio]] stated that, ''"We were witnesses of a moral miracle."''<ref name="THE-CONCLAVE"/> English Cardinal [[w:Basil Hume|Basil Hume]] commented that ''"Seldom have I had such an experience of the presence of God...I am not one for whom the dictates of the [[Holy Spirit]] are self-evident. I'm slightly hard-boiled on that...But for me he was God's candidate."''<ref name=NORWICH/> And later, [[w:Mother Teresa|Mother Teresa]] commented: ''"He has been the greatest gift of God, a sunray of God's love shining in the darkness of the world."''<ref name="THE-CONCLAVE"/>

Russian Metropolitan [[Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad]], who was present at his installation, collapsed and died during the ceremony, and the new Pope prayed over him.<ref>''"[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/046/Boris-Georgyevich-Rotov-Nikodi.html Boris Georgyevich Rotov Nikodim]".'' Crystal Reference Encyclopedia.</ref>

John Paul I intended to prepare an [[w:Encyclical|encyclical]] in order to confirm the lines of the [[w:Second Vatican Council|Second Vatican Council]] ("an extraordinary long-range historical event and of growth for the Church," he said) and to enforce the Church's discipline in the life of priests and the faithful. In discipline, he was a reformist, instead, and was the author of initiatives such as the [[w:Devolution|devolution]]<ref group="note">'''Devolution''' is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government. However, the power to make legislation relevant to the area may also be granted.</ref> of one per cent of each church's entries for the poor churches in the [[w:Third World|Third World]].  The visit of [[w:Jorge Rafael Videla|Jorge Rafael Videla]], president of the Argentine junta, to the Vatican caused considerable controversy, especially when the Pope reminded Videla about [[w:Human rights|human rights]] violations taking place in Argentina during the so-called [[w:Dirty War|Dirty War]].

John Paul I was found dead sitting up in his bed shortly before dawn on [[September 29]], 1978,<ref>NBC Radio News announces Pope John Paul I Death (In RealAudio).</ref> just 33 days into his papacy. The Vatican reported that the 65-year-old pope most likely died the previous night of a heart attack. :

<blockquote>"The official version of Pope John Paul's death is that the pontiff, who would have been 66 years old on Oct. 17, succumbed to a 'massive' [[w:Myocardial infarction|cardiac infarction]], or heart attack, presumably around 11 p.m. on Sept. 29."<ref name=GLOBE-OCT7/></blockquote> It has been claimed that the Vatican altered some of the details of the discovery of the death to avoid possible unseemliness<ref>''"[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/613208502.html?didsname=613208502:613208502&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+07%2C+1978&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Evidence+of+foul+play+in+Pope+death+claimed&pqatl=google Evidence of foul play in Pope death claimed]".'' Chicago Tribune. 7 October 1978. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.<TRIBUNE/ref><ref>''"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0872605057EA5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM BISHOP TELLS STORY OF POPE JOHN PAUL I'S DEATH HE DEBUNKS CONSPIRACY THEORY, BUTS SAYS VATICAN ALTERED SOME DETAILS]".'' St. Louis Dispatch. 11 October 1998. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref> in that he was discovered by Sister Vincenza, a nun.<ref>''"[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=roIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I_UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2820,1967300&dq=sister+vincenza+john+paul+i&hl=en Foul Play Suspected in Pope's Death?]".'' Baltimore Afro-American. 10 October 1978. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref>

Pope John Paul I was the first pope to abandon the [[w:Papal coronation|Papal Coronation]], and he was the first Pope to choose a double [[w:Papal name|name]] (John Paul) for his papal name. This legacy was so remarkable that his His successor, Cardinal [[John Paul II|Karol Wojtyla]], chose the same name.As pope, Luciani quickly discarded the royal "we" and disdained the [[w:Sedia gestatoria|sedia gestatoria]], the portable throne in which popes are hoisted onto the shoulders of their subjects and carried in majestic procession like conquering monarchs. This pope's unexpected greeting to those who met with him at the Vatican was, ''"How can I serve you?"''<ref name="GUERNON"/> In just a month Pope John Paul I captured the hearts of people worldwide, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who witnessed in him the welcome but unexpected triumph of [[humility]].<ref name="GUERNON"/> Luciani picked "[[Humility|Humilitas]]" as his episcopal motto, an appropriate choice for a prince of the church who regard-ed himself as ''"poor dust."'' ''"We must feel small before [[God]],"'' he preached; and he lived that conviction faithfully, often describing himself publicly as ''"a poor man accustomed to small things and silence."''<ref name="GUERNON"/> According to Luciani biographer Loris Serafini, the dedication of a museum and library in the pope's honor will coincide with the centenary celebration of his birth on October 17, 2012.<ref name="GUERNON"/>

On [[August 26]], 2002, Bishop Vincenzo Savio announced the start of the preliminary phase to collect documents and testimonies necessary to start the process of [[Glorification|canonisation]]. On [[June 8]], 2003 the [[w:Congregation for the Causes of Saints|Congregation for the Causes of Saints]] gave its assent to the work. On [[November 23]], the process formally opened in the Cathedral Basilica of [[w:Belluno|Belluno]] with Cardinal [[w:José Saraiva Martins|José Saraiva Martins]] in charge.<ref>{{it icon}} Congregation for the Causes of Saints. ''[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_doc_20031123_papa-luciani_it.html Solemn Opening of the Cause for Canonization of the Servant of God, Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I].'' 23 November 2003. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>UPI.com ''[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2006/11/12/John-Paul-I-on-sainthood-track/UPI-81341163314624/ John Paul I on Sainthood Track].'' United Press International, Nov 12, 2006. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref> The Diocesan inquiry subsequently concluded on [[November 11]], 2006 at Belluno, without finding evidence of a miracle.<ref name=CENTURY>''"The Roman Catholic Church will investigate a life-saving miracle attributed to the late Pope John Paul I, bringing the pontiff who served only 33 days in 1978 one step closer to possible sainthood."'' '''The Christian Century''' 124.8 (Apr. 17, 2007): p15.</ref> In June 2009, the Vatican began the "Roman" phase of the beatification process for John Paul I, drawing upon the testimony of Giuseppe Denora di Altamura who claimed to have been cured of lymphoma cancer 14 years earlier through the intercession of the late pope.<ref name=CENTURY/> An official investigation into the alleged miracle is now under way.<ref>Edward Pentin. ''[http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/jpi_miracle_goes_to_rome John Paul I's Miracle Goes to Rome].'' National Catholic Register, June 08, 2009. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref>

The Diocesan inquiry subsequently concluded on [[November 11]], 2006 at Belluno. In June 2009, the Vatican began the "Roman" phase of the beatification process for John Paul I, drawing upon the testimony of Giuseppe Denora di Altamura who claimed to have been cured of cancer. An official investigation into the alleged miracle is now under way.<ref>Edward Pentin. ''[http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/jpi_miracle_goes_to_rome John Paul I's Miracle Goes to Rome].'' National Catholic Register, June 08, 2009. Retrieved: August 20, 2012.</ref> For Luciani to be [[w:Beatification|beatified]], the investigators have to certify at least one [[miracle]]. For [[Glorification|canonisation]] there must be a second miracle, though the reigning pope may waive these requirements altogether, as is often done in the case of beatified popes.<ref>''[http://www.catholic-pages.com/saints/explained.asp What Is a Saint?]'' Catholic-Pages.com. JUL 29, 1997.</ref>

* {{it icon}} Loris Serafini. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=jJ2bNwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:ISBN8825021038 Albino Luciani. Il papa del sorriso]. (Albino Luciani. The Smiling Pope)'' 3rd Edition. EMP, 2008. 192 pp. ISBN 9788825021035* {{sp icon}} Fr. Jesús López Sáez. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=uzaPygAACAAJ&dq=editions:XZ98GB3h8qIC&source=bl&ots=RfXIUUmcJ0&sig=3s6mxm9cia9CN21nTzVrM5Pmawc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wRI1UKrEGcfb0QGh6YHoDQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ Juan Pablo I: Caso Abierto] (John Paul I: Cold Case).'' Sepha, 2010. 382 pp. ISBN 9788496764934* {{sp icon}} Fr. Jesús López Sáez. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=Nlb0AAAACAAJ&dq=editions:ehwUZKkJ90cC&source=bl&ots=no0lx1HMv7&sig=Spsb7iaV3Bn_8IjRVnNSXyBtAzE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DBI1UNj0N4Su0AHzoYD4BQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA Se Pedirá Cuenta: Muerte Y Figura De Juan Pablo I (Colección Tratados de testimonio)].'' 3rd Edition. Orígenes, 1991. 175 pp. ISBN 9788478250462'''Books In Fiction'''* {{fr icon}} [[w:Vladimir Volkoff|Vladimir Volkoff]]. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=-c8dAQAAIAAJ&dq=bibliogroup:%22L'h%C3%B4te+du+pape%22&source=gbs_book_similarbooks L'hôte du Pape: Roman] (The Pope’s Guest).'' Rocher, 2004. 334 pp. ISBN 9782268049328 * [[w:Luís Miguel Rocha|Luís Miguel Rocha]]. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=0L7jXKWluVAC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false The Last Pope].'' Penguin, 2009. 419 pp. ISBN 9780515146608 (''Fiction'')