Carter Roy

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.

Around 7 p.m., the Pope appeared to have chest pains but didn't want to call a doctor. Instead, he had a few meetings, ate dinner, and went to his bedroom around 9.30 p.m. The next morning at 5.10 a.m., the Vatican nuns left the pontiff's coffee outside his apartment, per usual. Only, he never came out to drink it. They knew something was amiss.

Around 7 p.m., the Pope appeared to have chest pains but didn't want to call a doctor. Instead, he had a few meetings, ate dinner, and went to his bedroom around 9.30 p.m. The next morning at 5.10 a.m., the Vatican nuns left the pontiff's coffee outside his apartment, per usual. Only, he never came out to drink it. They knew something was amiss.

Around 7 p.m., the Pope appeared to have chest pains but didn't want to call a doctor. Instead, he had a few meetings, ate dinner, and went to his bedroom around 9.30 p.m. The next morning at 5.10 a.m., the Vatican nuns left the pontiff's coffee outside his apartment, per usual. Only, he never came out to drink it. They knew something was amiss.

According to Stefania Falasca, vice president of the John Paul I Vatican Foundation, a Sister Vincenza knocked on his bedroom door, but there was no answer. She then sent for help. However, there's conflicting information that comes from the Vatican. They publicly claim the pontiff's secretary, John McGee, went into the room that morning and made the discovery himself.

According to Stefania Falasca, vice president of the John Paul I Vatican Foundation, a Sister Vincenza knocked on his bedroom door, but there was no answer. She then sent for help. However, there's conflicting information that comes from the Vatican. They publicly claim the pontiff's secretary, John McGee, went into the room that morning and made the discovery himself.

According to Stefania Falasca, vice president of the John Paul I Vatican Foundation, a Sister Vincenza knocked on his bedroom door, but there was no answer. She then sent for help. However, there's conflicting information that comes from the Vatican. They publicly claim the pontiff's secretary, John McGee, went into the room that morning and made the discovery himself.

Whoever it was, they found Pope John Paul I sitting up in bed with his eyes closed. At first, it looked like he'd fallen asleep reading, but when they touched his hands, they were ice cold. They rushed to inform the senior staff around 525 a.m. Later that day, McGee announced to the world that Pope John Paul I was dead. He'd spent just 33 days in office.

Whoever it was, they found Pope John Paul I sitting up in bed with his eyes closed. At first, it looked like he'd fallen asleep reading, but when they touched his hands, they were ice cold. They rushed to inform the senior staff around 525 a.m. Later that day, McGee announced to the world that Pope John Paul I was dead. He'd spent just 33 days in office.

Whoever it was, they found Pope John Paul I sitting up in bed with his eyes closed. At first, it looked like he'd fallen asleep reading, but when they touched his hands, they were ice cold. They rushed to inform the senior staff around 525 a.m. Later that day, McGee announced to the world that Pope John Paul I was dead. He'd spent just 33 days in office.

Needless to say, the Catholic community was shaken. In this clip from a 1978 interview, Bishop John Taylor remembers the Pope fondly.

Needless to say, the Catholic community was shaken. In this clip from a 1978 interview, Bishop John Taylor remembers the Pope fondly.

Needless to say, the Catholic community was shaken. In this clip from a 1978 interview, Bishop John Taylor remembers the Pope fondly.

A reporter from UK-based Independent Television News also asked Archbishop Donald Coggin for his reaction.

A reporter from UK-based Independent Television News also asked Archbishop Donald Coggin for his reaction.

A reporter from UK-based Independent Television News also asked Archbishop Donald Coggin for his reaction.

The Vatican Health Service's Dr. Renato Buzanetti later estimated the Pope's death was due to a heart attack. But some Italians doubted the fact that he died of natural causes and questioned why no autopsy had been performed.

The Vatican Health Service's Dr. Renato Buzanetti later estimated the Pope's death was due to a heart attack. But some Italians doubted the fact that he died of natural causes and questioned why no autopsy had been performed.

The Vatican Health Service's Dr. Renato Buzanetti later estimated the Pope's death was due to a heart attack. But some Italians doubted the fact that he died of natural causes and questioned why no autopsy had been performed.

Conspiracy theories gradually emerged, suggesting that the Pope might have known too much, that his investigation into the sale of shares between the Vatican Bank and Banco Ambrosiano had made him a target, and that Marcinkus, Calvi, an Italian secret society, and the Mafia all conspired to kill Pope John Paul I.