Nearly 44 years after his death, Pope John Paul I was beatified on Sunday in Rome. St. Peter’s Square gave a big round of applause after the current Pope Francis gave the formula for the beatification of Albino Luciani, who had been elected pope in the conclave at the end of August 1978. Also unveiled was a tapestry hanging on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica depicting the portrait of Pope Luciani, painted by Chinese artist Yan Zhang.
The feast day of the new Blessed One will be August 26, the day John Paul I was elected Pope in 1978. A relic of Pope Luciani, a 1956 white paper note, was brought to the altar in St. Peter’s Square. This is an outline of Luciani’s spiritual reflections on the three theological virtues – faith, hope and charity. John Paul I’s niece, Lina Petri, carried the relic to the altar while other family members lit candles.
“The new Blessed One lived in the joy of the Gospel, uncompromisingly, lovingly to the end,” said Pope Francis. “He embodied the poverty of the disciple who overcomes the temptation to focus on himself and seek glory. Following the example of Jesus, he was a meek and humble shepherd.”
After the beatification, the bells rang in the Dolomite mountain resort of Canale d’Agordo, the birthplace of the new beatification. The entire city gathered in the square dedicated to Luciani to watch the ceremony on a large screen in St. Peter’s Square. About 100 faithful from Canale d’Agordo were in Rome to attend the beatification. Another 300 traveled by bus to Rome from the Diocese of Belluno, which also includes Canale d’Agordo.
Only 33 days in the office
John Paul I died just 33 days after being elected pope, at the age of 65. This made John Paul I one of the shortest-serving popes in the history of the Catholic Church. The short-lived pope was also known as the “Pope of Smiles”. His successor was John Paul II of Poland.
The beatification process had been going on since 2003. In October 2021, Pope Francis recognized an event as a miracle according to the Catholic faith, which is said to have happened through the intercession of John Paul I. In the tradition of the Church, this is a condition of beatification. In this particular case, an 11-year-old girl in Buenos Aires, reportedly terminally ill, recovered in 2011 after a pastor prayed to John Paul I.
John Paul I was the first pope to choose a double name. He broke with Vatican customs in other ways as well. Until now, as is common with monarchs, popes have said “we” when speaking of themselves. John Paul I said “I”. He only reluctantly used the portable papal throne at the urging of the Curia. And he ordered the Swiss Guard to kneel in the presence of the Pope, which had been obligatory until then.
Assassination conspiracy speculation
Albino Luciani died suddenly on the night of September 28, 1978. He was found lifeless by the nun who brought coffee to his room every morning. There is speculation about a murder plot surrounding his death, but these have never been substantiated.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
