Pope John Paul I was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent year of three popes and the first to occur since 1605. John Paul I remains the most recent Italian-born pope, the last in a succession of such popes that started with Clement VII in 1523.
Official photograph, 1978
John Paul I on 19 September 1978
Albino Luciani approximately at the age of 10, c. 1922–23
Albino Luciani in 1969
August 1978 papal conclave
The papal conclave held on 25 and 26 August 1978 was the first of the two held that year. It was convoked to elect a successor to Paul VI, who had died on 6 August 1978. After the cardinal electors assembled in Rome, they elected Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, as the new pope on the fourth ballot. He accepted the election and took the name John Paul I.
August 1978 papal conclave
The newly elected Pope John Paul I (on the left), with Monsignor Virgilio Noè, then Papal Master of Ceremonies.