Carter Roy

Now, he watched in amazement as the friar preached the Lenten sermons to the community. It was at that moment he realized he wanted to become a priest. His mother, a devout Roman Catholic, suggested he attend a minor seminary. Before long, Luciani was deeply immersed in his studies and on his way to joining the priesthood. He earned a reputation for being a well-liked, modest man.

Now, he watched in amazement as the friar preached the Lenten sermons to the community. It was at that moment he realized he wanted to become a priest. His mother, a devout Roman Catholic, suggested he attend a minor seminary. Before long, Luciani was deeply immersed in his studies and on his way to joining the priesthood. He earned a reputation for being a well-liked, modest man.

Now, he watched in amazement as the friar preached the Lenten sermons to the community. It was at that moment he realized he wanted to become a priest. His mother, a devout Roman Catholic, suggested he attend a minor seminary. Before long, Luciani was deeply immersed in his studies and on his way to joining the priesthood. He earned a reputation for being a well-liked, modest man.

Even the church's leadership noticed this, which helped him ascend the ranks quickly. In 1958, Luciani was ordained as a bishop. And when the Patriarch of Venice died in 1969, then Pope Paul VI called on Luciani to replace him. Patriarchs are a special type of archbishop handpicked by the Pope. the Patriarch of Venice in particular, was in charge of nine dioceses in northwestern Italy.

Even the church's leadership noticed this, which helped him ascend the ranks quickly. In 1958, Luciani was ordained as a bishop. And when the Patriarch of Venice died in 1969, then Pope Paul VI called on Luciani to replace him. Patriarchs are a special type of archbishop handpicked by the Pope. the Patriarch of Venice in particular, was in charge of nine dioceses in northwestern Italy.

Even the church's leadership noticed this, which helped him ascend the ranks quickly. In 1958, Luciani was ordained as a bishop. And when the Patriarch of Venice died in 1969, then Pope Paul VI called on Luciani to replace him. Patriarchs are a special type of archbishop handpicked by the Pope. the Patriarch of Venice in particular, was in charge of nine dioceses in northwestern Italy.

In other words, this was a massive promotion. It's said that Luciani's bishops were loyal and enjoyed working with him. Together, they collaborated on humanitarian work, which benefited many of the locals, especially the underprivileged. They relied on funds from the Catholic Bank of Veneto to support the diocese.

In other words, this was a massive promotion. It's said that Luciani's bishops were loyal and enjoyed working with him. Together, they collaborated on humanitarian work, which benefited many of the locals, especially the underprivileged. They relied on funds from the Catholic Bank of Veneto to support the diocese.

In other words, this was a massive promotion. It's said that Luciani's bishops were loyal and enjoyed working with him. Together, they collaborated on humanitarian work, which benefited many of the locals, especially the underprivileged. They relied on funds from the Catholic Bank of Veneto to support the diocese.

Clergy even called Veneto the priest's bank because the financial institution did them many favors. But this wasn't just out of the goodness of their hearts. Veneto was close to the Vatican's personal bank, the Institute for the Works of Religion, which held a majority share in the Veneto bank.

Clergy even called Veneto the priest's bank because the financial institution did them many favors. But this wasn't just out of the goodness of their hearts. Veneto was close to the Vatican's personal bank, the Institute for the Works of Religion, which held a majority share in the Veneto bank.

Clergy even called Veneto the priest's bank because the financial institution did them many favors. But this wasn't just out of the goodness of their hearts. Veneto was close to the Vatican's personal bank, the Institute for the Works of Religion, which held a majority share in the Veneto bank.

In mid-1972, the Catholic Bank of Veneto became a special focus for Luciani, all because the Vatican Bank's president, American Bishop Paul Marcinkus, sold a majority of their shares in the Veneto Bank to someone else. And the new owner was not a saintly man. He was a financial mogul named Roberto Calvi. Calvi was the general manager of Italy's biggest private bank. Banco Ambrosiano.

In mid-1972, the Catholic Bank of Veneto became a special focus for Luciani, all because the Vatican Bank's president, American Bishop Paul Marcinkus, sold a majority of their shares in the Veneto Bank to someone else. And the new owner was not a saintly man. He was a financial mogul named Roberto Calvi. Calvi was the general manager of Italy's biggest private bank. Banco Ambrosiano.

In mid-1972, the Catholic Bank of Veneto became a special focus for Luciani, all because the Vatican Bank's president, American Bishop Paul Marcinkus, sold a majority of their shares in the Veneto Bank to someone else. And the new owner was not a saintly man. He was a financial mogul named Roberto Calvi. Calvi was the general manager of Italy's biggest private bank. Banco Ambrosiano.

He was a wealthy loner who was extremely private about his life and his business dealings. Now, with the Veneto shares in his hands, the men of God would financially be at his whim. The bank could hinder the clergy's religious work. Needless to say, the Venetian priests and bishops were extremely upset. They had to do something.

He was a wealthy loner who was extremely private about his life and his business dealings. Now, with the Veneto shares in his hands, the men of God would financially be at his whim. The bank could hinder the clergy's religious work. Needless to say, the Venetian priests and bishops were extremely upset. They had to do something.

He was a wealthy loner who was extremely private about his life and his business dealings. Now, with the Veneto shares in his hands, the men of God would financially be at his whim. The bank could hinder the clergy's religious work. Needless to say, the Venetian priests and bishops were extremely upset. They had to do something.

They hoped Pope Paul VI would fire Marcinkus for selling off the Veneto shares. But they couldn't just march into the Vatican and make those demands. They needed to abide by the Catholic hierarchy. The only person who seemingly could communicate that to the pontiff was their archbishop and patriarch, Albino Luciani.

They hoped Pope Paul VI would fire Marcinkus for selling off the Veneto shares. But they couldn't just march into the Vatican and make those demands. They needed to abide by the Catholic hierarchy. The only person who seemingly could communicate that to the pontiff was their archbishop and patriarch, Albino Luciani.