Pope John Paul I
| John Paul I | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Papacy began | 26 August 1978 |
| Papacy ended | 28 September 1978 (0 years, 33 days) |
| Predecessor | Paul VI |
| Successor | John Paul II |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Albino Luciani |
| Born | 17 October 1912 Canale d'Agordo, Italy |
| Died | 28 September 1978 (aged 65) Apostolic Palace, Vatican City |
| Other Popes named John Paul | |
Pope John Paul I (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. I, Italian: Giovanni Paolo I), born Albino Luciani, (17 October 1912 – 28 September 1978), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes. John Paul I was the first Pope born in the 20th century.
In Italy he is remembered with the appellatives of "Il Papa del Sorriso" (The Smiling Pope)[1] and "Il Sorriso di Dio" (God's Smile).[2] Time magazine and other publications referred to him as The September Pope.[3]
Contents |
Biography
Early years
Albino Luciani was born on 17 October 1912 in Forno di Canale (now Canale d'Agordo) in Belluno, a province of the Veneto region in northern Italy. He was the son of Giovanni Luciani (1872? - 1952), a bricklayer, and Bortola Tancon (1879? - 1948). Albino was followed by two brothers, Federico (1915–1916) and Edoardo (1917–2008), and a sister, Antonia (b. 1920).
Luciani entered the minor seminary of Feltre in 1923, where his teachers found him "too lively", and later went on to the major seminary of Belluno. During his stay at Belluno, he attempted to join the Jesuits but was denied by the seminary's rector, Bishop Giosuè Cattarossi. Ordained a priest on 7 July 1935, Luciani then served as a curate in his native Forno de Canale before becoming a professor and the vice-rector of the Belluno seminary in 1937. Among the different subjects, he taught dogmatic and moral theology, canon law, and sacred art.
In 1941, Luciani began to seek a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, which required at least one year's attendance in Rome. However, the seminary's superiors wanted him to continue teaching during his doctoral studies; the situation was resolved by a special dispensation of Pope Pius XII himself, on 27 March 1941. His thesis (The origin of the human soul according to Antonio Rosmini) largely attacked Rosmini's theology, and earned him his doctorate magna cum laude.
In 1947, he was named vicar general to Bishop Girolamo Bortignon, OFM Cap, of Belluno. Two years later, in 1949, he was placed in charge of diocesan catechetics.
On 15 December 1958, Luciani was appointed Bishop of Vittorio Veneto by Pope John XXIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 27 December from Pope John himself, with Bishops Bortignon and Gioacchino Muccin serving as co-consecrators. As a bishop, he participated in all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).
On 15 December 1969, he was appointed Patriarch of Venice by Pope Paul VI and took possession of the archdiocese on 3 February 1970. Pope Paul created Luciani Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco in the consistory of 5 March 1973. 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:[4]
| “ | Pope Paul VI made me blush to the roots of my hair in the presence of 20,000 people, because he removed his stole and placed it on my shoulders. Never have I blushed so much! | ” |
Papacy
Election
Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot of the August 1978 papal conclave. Senior Cardinal Deacon Pericle Felici announced that the Cardinals had elected Venice patriarch Albino Luciani to be Pope John Paul I.[5] After considering calling himself Pius XIII, he chose the regnal name of John Paul, the first double name in the history of the papacy, explaining in his 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, who had named him Patriarch of Venice and a cardinal.[6] He was also the first (and so far only) pope to use "the first" in his regnal name.[7]
Observers have suggested that his selection was linked to the rumored divisions between rival camps within the College of Cardinals:[6]
- Conservatives and Curialists supporting Cardinal Giuseppe Siri, who favored a more conservative interpretation or even correction of Vatican II's reforms.
- Those who favored a more liberal interpretation of Vatican II's reforms, and some Italian cardinals supporting Cardinal Giovanni Benelli, who was opposed because of his "autocratic" tendencies.
Outside the Italians, who were experiencing diminished influence within the increasingly internationalist College of Cardinals, were figures like Cardinal Karol Wojtyła.[6] Over the days following the conclave, cardinals effectively declared that with general great joy they had elected "God's candidate".[6] Argentine Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio stated that, "We were witnesses of a moral miracle."[6] And later, Mother Teresa commented: "He has been the greatest gift of God, a sunray of God's love shining in the darkness of the world."[6]
Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad, who was present at his installation, collapsed and died during the ceremony, and the new Pope prayed over him.[8]
Church policies
| Papal styles of Pope John Paul I |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | Servant of God |
Humanising the papacy
After his election, John Paul quickly made several decisions that would "humanise" the office of pope, admitting publicly he had turned scarlet when Paul VI had named him the Patriarch of Venice. He was the first modern pope to speak in the singular form, using 'I' instead of the royal we, though the official records of his speeches were often rewritten in more formal style by traditionalist aides, who reinstated the royal we in press releases and in L'Osservatore Romano. He was the first to refuse the sedia gestatoria, until Vatican pressure convinced him of its need, in order to allow the faithful to see him.
He was the first pope to choose an "investiture" to commence his papacy rather than the traditional papal coronation.
One of his remarks, reported in the press, was that the Lord was not only the father, but also the mother.[9]
Encyclical on devolution
John Paul I intended to prepare an encyclical in order to confirm the lines of the 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 devolution of one per cent of each church's entries for the poor churches in the Third World. The visit of Jorge Rafael Videla, president of the Argentine junta, to the Vatican caused considerable controversy, especially when the Pope reminded Videla about human rights violations taking place in Argentina during the so-called Dirty War.
Moral theology
The moral theology of John Paul I has been openly debated due to his interpretation of Humanae Vitae. According to journalist John L. Allen "John Paul I would not have insisted upon the negative judgment in Humanae Vitae as aggressively and publicly as John Paul II, and probably would not have treated it as a quasi-infallible teaching"[10][11] However, others have argued, "Luciani was intransigent with his upholding of the teaching of the Church and severe with those, through intellectual pride and disobedience paid no attention to the Church's prohibition of contraception", though while not condoning the sin, he was tolerant of those who sincerely tried and failed to live up to the Church's teaching. The book also states that "...if some people think that his compassion and gentleness in this respect implies he was against Humane Vitae one can only infer it was wishful thinking on their part and an attempt to find an ally in favor of artificial contraception."[12]
Personality
He was regarded as a skilled communicator and writer, and has left behind some writings. His book Illustrissimi, written while he was a Cardinal, is a series of letters to a wide collection of historical and fictional persons. Among those still available are his letters to Jesus Christ,[13] the Biblical King David,[14] Figaro the Barber,[15] Marie Theresa of Austria[16] and Pinocchio.[17] Others 'written to' included Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Christopher Marlowe.
John Paul impressed people with his personal warmth. There are reports that within the Vatican he was seen as an intellectual lightweight not up to the responsibilities of the papacy, although David Yallop ("In God's Name") says that this is the result of a whispering campaign by people in the Vatican who were opposed to Luciani's policies. In the words of John Cornwell, "they treated him with condescension"; one senior cleric discussing Luciani said "they have elected Peter Sellers."[18] Critics contrasted his sermons mentioning Pinocchio to the learned intellectual discourses of Pius XII or Paul VI. Visitors spoke of his isolation and loneliness, and the fact that he was the first pope in decades not to have had either a diplomatic role (like Pius XI and John XXIII) or Curial role (like Pius XII and Paul VI) in the Church.
His personal impact, however, was twofold: his image as a warm, gentle, kind man captivated the world. This image was immediately formed when he was presented to the crowd in St. Peter's Square following his election. The warmth of his presence made him a much-loved figure before he even spoke a word. The media in particular fell under his spell. He was a skilled orator. Whereas Pope Paul VI spoke as if delivering a doctoral thesis, John Paul I produced warmth, laughter, a 'feel-good factor,' and plenty of media-friendly sound bites.
John Paul was the first pope to admit that the prospect of the papacy had daunted him to the point that other cardinals had to encourage him to accept it. He strongly suggested to his aides and staff that he believed he was unfit to be pope. John Paul refused to have the millennium-old traditional Papal Coronation and wear the Papal Tiara.[19] He instead chose to have a simplified Papal Inauguration Mass. John Paul I used as his motto Humilitas. In his notable Angelus of 27 August delivered on the first day of his papacy, he impressed the world with his natural friendliness.[4]
Death
John Paul I was found dead sitting up in his bed shortly before dawn on 29 September 1978,[20] just 33 days into his papacy. The Vatican reported that the near-66-year-old Pope most likely died the previous night of a heart attack. It has been claimed that the Vatican altered some of the details of the discovery of the death to avoid possible unseemliness[21][22] in that he was discovered by Sister Vincenza, a nun.[23]
An autopsy was not performed, as is customary. This, along with inconsistent statements made following the Pope's death led to a number of conspiracy theories concerning his death. These statements concern who found the Pope's body, at what time he was found, and what papers the Pope had in his hand.
Legacy
Other than the abandonment of the Papal Coronation, John Paul I was not in office long enough to influence any major practical changes within the Vatican or the Roman Catholic Church.
Initiation of canonisation process
The process of canonisation formally began in 1990 with the petition by 226 Brazilian bishops, including four cardinals.
On 26 August 2002, Bishop Vincenzo Savio announced the start of the preliminary phase to collect documents and testimonies necessary to start the process of canonisation. On 8 June 2003 the Congregation for the Causes of Saints gave its assent to the work. On 23 November, the process formally opened in the Cathedral Basilica of Belluno with Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in charge. [24][25]
The Diocesan inquiry subsequently concluded on 11 November 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.[26] For Luciani to be beatified the investigators have to certify at least one miracle. For canonization there must be two more.
John Paul II on his predecessor
Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected to succeed John Paul I as Supreme Pontiff on Monday, 16 October 1978. The next day he celebrated Mass together with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. After the Mass, he delivered his first Urbi et Orbi (a traditional blessing) message, broadcast worldwide via radio. In it he pledged fidelity to the Second Vatican Council and paid tribute to his predecessor:[27]
| “ | What can we say of John Paul I? It seems to us that only yesterday he emerged from this assembly of ours to put on the papal robes—not a light weight. But what warmth of charity, nay, what 'an abundant outpouring of love'—which came forth from him in the few days of his ministry and which in his last Sunday address before the Angelus he desired should come upon the world. This is also confirmed by his wise instructions to the faithful who were present at his public audiences on faith, hope and love. | ” |
Media
- In 2006, the Italian Public Broadcasting Service, RAI, produced a television miniseries about the life of John Paul I, called Papa Luciani: Il sorriso di Dio (literally, "Pope Luciani: God's smile"). It stars Italian comedian Neri Marcorè in the titular role.
- The Fall's song "Hey! Luciani" is about Pope John Paul I.
- Patti Smith's recitative song "Wave" is about Luciani, and her Wave album is dedicated to him.
- The 1990 film The Godfather Part III included the assassination theory of Pope John Paul I, although the character's lay name differs from the actual Pope's.
- Dan Brown's 2000 novel Angels & Demons also repeats the assassination claim, putting the blame specifically on Propaganda Due.
- Portuguese author Luis Miguel Rocha's 2008 fiction book The Last Pope avers that John Paul I was assassinated.
- Robert Littell's 2002 book The Company also portrays John Paul I's death as a KGB-directed assassination.
- David Yallop's book In God's Name developed the theories behind the alleged murder of John Paul I
References
- ↑ Raymond and Lauretta, The Smiling Pope, The Life & Teaching of John Paul I. Our Sunday Visitor Press, 2004.
- ↑ Papa Luciani: Il sorriso di Dio (Pope Luciani: The Smile of God). Radiotelevisione Italia 2006 documentary.
- ↑ The September Pope, cover story in Time, Monday, Oct. 09, 1978, webpage found 2010-04-03.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "FIRST ANGELUS ADDRESS, Pope John Paul I". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_i/angelus/documents/hf_jp-i_ang_27081978_en.html. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
- ↑ 1978 Year in Review: The Election of Pope John Paul II-http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1978/The-Election-of-Pope-John-Paul-II/12309251197005-5/
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 http://www.papaluciani.com/eng/conclave.htm The Conclave: August 25th - 26th 1978
- ↑ Yallop, p. 75.
- ↑ "Boris Georgyevich Rotov Nikodim". Crystal Reference Encyclopedia. http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/046/Boris-Georgyevich-Rotov-Nikodi.html.
- ↑ Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sep 30, 1978
- ↑ http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word090503.htm
- ↑ Kay Withers, "Pope John Paul I and Birth Control," America, March 24, 1979, pp. 233-34.
- ↑ Raymond and Lauretta, The Smiling Pope, The Life & Teaching of John Paul I. Our Sunday Visitor Press, 2004.
- ↑ Letters to Jesus Christ
- ↑ Letter: the Biblical King David
- ↑ Figaro the Barber
- ↑ Marie Theresa of Austria
- ↑ Pinocchio
- ↑ McCabe, Joseph, A History of the Popes Excerpts from: A History of the Popes
- ↑ Romano Pontifici Eligendo (1975) Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on the election on the pontiff, Section 92.
- ↑ NBC Radio News announces Pope John Paul I Death (In RealAudio)
- ↑ "Evidence of foul play in Pope death claimed". Chicago Tribune. October 7, 1978. 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. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ↑ "BISHOP TELLS STORY OF POPE JOHN PAUL I'S DEATH HE DEBUNKS CONSPIRACY THEORY, BUTS SAYS VATICAN ALTERED SOME DETAILS". St. Louis Dispatch. October 11, 1998. 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. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
- ↑ "Foul Play". Baltimore Afro-American. October 10, 1978. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=roIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I_UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2820,1967300&dq=sister+vincenza+john+paul+i&hl=en. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- ↑ Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Solemn Opening of the Cause for Canonization of the Servant of God, Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I on November 23, 2003. In Italian. Page found 2010-06-13.
- ↑ John Paul I on Sainthood Track. United Press International, Nov. 12, 2006. Page found 2010-06-13.
- ↑ John Paul I's Miracle Goes to Rome. National Catholic Register, June 8, 2009.
- ↑ "FIRST RADIOMESSAGE "URBI ET ORBI", Pope John Paul II". Libreria Editrice Vaticana. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19781017_primo-radiomessaggio_en.html. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
External links
- John Paul I in the Vatican's site
- Religion: How Pope John Paul I Won — TIME Magazine
- Pope John Paul on Find-A-Grave
- John Paul I on EWTN Speech on "Church Discipline, Evangelization, Ecumenism, Peace"
- John Paul I at AcademicKids
- Tomb of John Paul I - Vatican Grottoes
- Italian documentary about the election of Pope John Paul I on YouTube - Elezione di Giovanni Paolo I
- An interview with Dr John Magee, former private secretary to John Paul I, on the occasion of John Paul II's funeral is available here. About 3 min 20 sec into the interview he mentions the fact that John Paul I seemed to believe his pontificate wouldn't be a long one. From RTÉ Radio One's "News At One" on 8 April 2005. -Real player required.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Giovanni Urbani |
Patriarch of Venice 1970 – 1978 |
Succeeded by Marco Cé |
| Preceded by Paul VI |
Pope 1978 |
Succeeded by John Paul II |
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