This Week in Christian History: A Pope's Death, a German Peace Agreement, and a Medieval Council
Pope John Paul I Dies – Sept. 29, 1978
This week marks the anniversary of the sudden death of Pope John Paul I. Known as the "Smiling Pope" for his good humor, John Paul I had come to power after the previous pontiff, Paul VI, had died following a heart attack.
Born Albino Luciani in 1912 and basing his papal name off of his predecessors John XXIII and Paul VI, before becoming pope, John Paul had participated in the Second Vatican Council.
John Paul died suddenly after only 33 days in power, making his one of the shortest papal reigns in history. It also led to many conspiracy theories surrounding his unexpected death.
"The official cause of death was myocardial infarction — heart attack — but confusion in the details of his demise fed instant rumors of foul play," noted Crisis magazine.
"Within a few months of the pope's death, Abbé Georges de Nantes from the League of the Catholic Counter Reformation was crying murder."
