Carter Roy

The papal conclave considered several candidates to take the role of pope, including Benelli, who'd recently been promoted to cardinal. As Pope Paul VI's protege and close friend, he seemed like a natural choice. But there was just one problem. At 57 years old, many considered Benelli too young to become pontiff. Historically, most popes were age 60 and above.

The papal conclave considered several candidates to take the role of pope, including Benelli, who'd recently been promoted to cardinal. As Pope Paul VI's protege and close friend, he seemed like a natural choice. But there was just one problem. At 57 years old, many considered Benelli too young to become pontiff. Historically, most popes were age 60 and above.

The papal conclave considered several candidates to take the role of pope, including Benelli, who'd recently been promoted to cardinal. As Pope Paul VI's protege and close friend, he seemed like a natural choice. But there was just one problem. At 57 years old, many considered Benelli too young to become pontiff. Historically, most popes were age 60 and above.

So the papal conclave instead chose between 65-year-old Ducani and four other candidates. In the first round, the votes were split evenly, but by round three, Luciani was the clear front runner. According to Time Magazine, the Cardinals wanted to elect a humble man who got along with everyone. Luciani best fit that description.

So the papal conclave instead chose between 65-year-old Ducani and four other candidates. In the first round, the votes were split evenly, but by round three, Luciani was the clear front runner. According to Time Magazine, the Cardinals wanted to elect a humble man who got along with everyone. Luciani best fit that description.

So the papal conclave instead chose between 65-year-old Ducani and four other candidates. In the first round, the votes were split evenly, but by round three, Luciani was the clear front runner. According to Time Magazine, the Cardinals wanted to elect a humble man who got along with everyone. Luciani best fit that description.

On the first day of the papal conclave, he won the fourth round with roughly 90 out of 111 votes. Luciani was stunned. The cardinals had chosen him as the new pope. When an official asked if he accepted the honor, Luciani sat in silence, tense and hesitating. Finally, he accepted and said, quote, May God forgive you for what you have done in my regard.

On the first day of the papal conclave, he won the fourth round with roughly 90 out of 111 votes. Luciani was stunned. The cardinals had chosen him as the new pope. When an official asked if he accepted the honor, Luciani sat in silence, tense and hesitating. Finally, he accepted and said, quote, May God forgive you for what you have done in my regard.

On the first day of the papal conclave, he won the fourth round with roughly 90 out of 111 votes. Luciani was stunned. The cardinals had chosen him as the new pope. When an official asked if he accepted the honor, Luciani sat in silence, tense and hesitating. Finally, he accepted and said, quote, May God forgive you for what you have done in my regard.

It's not entirely clear what Luciani meant by that, but maybe he knew something everyone else didn't. He chose the name Pope John Paul I in honor of the two holy fathers who helped him ascend the church's ranks, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI. That same day, the Vatican announced Luciani's papacy and his new name to the crowd outside St. Peter's Square.

It's not entirely clear what Luciani meant by that, but maybe he knew something everyone else didn't. He chose the name Pope John Paul I in honor of the two holy fathers who helped him ascend the church's ranks, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI. That same day, the Vatican announced Luciani's papacy and his new name to the crowd outside St. Peter's Square.

It's not entirely clear what Luciani meant by that, but maybe he knew something everyone else didn't. He chose the name Pope John Paul I in honor of the two holy fathers who helped him ascend the church's ranks, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI. That same day, the Vatican announced Luciani's papacy and his new name to the crowd outside St. Peter's Square.

Everyone cheered as they welcomed the new pontiff. Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope John Paul I retained his modest and humble nature even as the head of the Catholic Church. Instead of a traditional coronation ceremony, he held an inauguration, similar to American presidents. He didn't have time for glamorous perks.

Everyone cheered as they welcomed the new pontiff. Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope John Paul I retained his modest and humble nature even as the head of the Catholic Church. Instead of a traditional coronation ceremony, he held an inauguration, similar to American presidents. He didn't have time for glamorous perks.

Everyone cheered as they welcomed the new pontiff. Unlike many of his predecessors, Pope John Paul I retained his modest and humble nature even as the head of the Catholic Church. Instead of a traditional coronation ceremony, he held an inauguration, similar to American presidents. He didn't have time for glamorous perks.

As the Catholic Church's supreme pontiff, he was now the leader of Vatican City, which is technically a small country of its own. That meant he could make all the personnel changes he wanted, which included... replacing the Vatican bank president. But first, the new Pope concerned himself with helping the world at large. On Italian radio, he announced his six-point plan for the Vatican.

As the Catholic Church's supreme pontiff, he was now the leader of Vatican City, which is technically a small country of its own. That meant he could make all the personnel changes he wanted, which included... replacing the Vatican bank president. But first, the new Pope concerned himself with helping the world at large. On Italian radio, he announced his six-point plan for the Vatican.

As the Catholic Church's supreme pontiff, he was now the leader of Vatican City, which is technically a small country of its own. That meant he could make all the personnel changes he wanted, which included... replacing the Vatican bank president. But first, the new Pope concerned himself with helping the world at large. On Italian radio, he announced his six-point plan for the Vatican.

It included promoting church unity, preaching the gospel, revising some laws, and helping the poor. He didn't get very far into his agenda. On Thursday, September 28th, 1978, the Pope woke to a typical day. He prayed and led mass in the morning. Then he retired to his apartment for the remainder of the afternoon. The facts after this are fuzzy, but here's what we know for sure.

It included promoting church unity, preaching the gospel, revising some laws, and helping the poor. He didn't get very far into his agenda. On Thursday, September 28th, 1978, the Pope woke to a typical day. He prayed and led mass in the morning. Then he retired to his apartment for the remainder of the afternoon. The facts after this are fuzzy, but here's what we know for sure.