Giovanni Paolo I commemorated on anniversary of papal election

The Catholic Church commemorates Blessed Giovanni Paolo I, born Albino Luciani, on August 26. Known as the ‘Pope of the Smile,’ he was elected to the papacy on this date in 1978.

Luciani’s pontificate lasted 33 days before his death on September 28, 1978. His brief reign was characterized by simplicity, humility, and a direct, pastoral language. He was the first Pope to use the first-person singular instead of the traditional royal ‘we.’

Following his death, a cause for canonization was opened in 1990. After Pope Francis authorized the decree regarding a miracle attributed to his intercession, Luciani was beatified in St. Peter's Square on September 4, 2022. Various Italian dioceses, including Belluno-Feltre and Venice, continue to honor his memory through prayer and liturgical celebrations.