Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross

'Smiling Pope' John Paul I takes the next step toward sainthood -- not all pontiffs earn this distinction

Pope John Paul I greets the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in August 1978. Keystone/Hulton Archive via Getty Images

On Sept. 4, 2022, Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, will be beatified: proclaimed as “blessed,” the last step before being canonized as a Catholic saint.

Elected head of the Catholic Church in August 1978, he held the papacy for only one month. John Paul I was found dead in bed late that September. The cause of his unexpected death was determined to have been a heart attack, notwithstanding a lingering swirl of conspiracy theories.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.