BL. JOHN PAUL I., POPE - 26 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 26th of August

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BLESSED JOHN PAUL I., POPE 

Albino Luciani was born October 17, 1912; he died September 28, 1978. He was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City from August 26, 1978 to his death 33 days later. 

Before the papal conclave that elected him, he expressed his desire not to be elected, telling those close to him that he would decline the papacy if elected, but, upon the cardinals' electing him, he felt an obligation to say yes.

He was the first pontiff to have a double name, choosing "John Paul" in honour of his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI. He explained that he was indebted to John XXIII and to Paul VI for naming him a bishop and a cardinal, respectively. Furthermore, he was the first pope to add the regnal number "I", designating himself "the First".

His two immediate successors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, later recalled the warm qualities of the late pontiff in several addresses. In Italy, he is remembered with the appellatives of Il Papa del Sorriso, "The Smiling Pope" and Il Sorriso di Dio "The Smile of God". Time magazine and other publications referred to him as "The September Pope".

In Italy, he is also known as "Papa Luciani". In his hometown of Canale d'Agordo a museum built and named in his honour is dedicated to his life and brief papacy.

He was declared a servant of God by his successor, John Paul II, on November 23, 2003, the first step on the road to sainthood. Pope Francis confirmed his heroic virtue on November 8, 2017 and named him as Venerable. Pope Francis presided over the beatification on September 4, 2022. Bl. John Paul I's feast day is August 26.

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_I