Thirty-nine years after the election of John Paul I to the See of Peter (August 26, 1978), Cardinal Pietro Parolin hopes that the “smiling Pope” will be beatified, encouraging prayer for this intention.
The Vatican Secretary of State mentioned this Cause of Beatification on August 28, 2017, at the headquarters of the Grafica Veneta Publishing House at Trebaseleghe, in the region of Padua, Italy, in the framework of the presentation of “Les Trois Venetie” Review, dedicated to John Paul II’s and Benedict XVI’s stays at Cadore, reported L’Osservatote Romano in Italian on August 29.
The Vatican’s “Number 2” expressed the hope that “John Paul I will be able to arrive at the honor of the altars.” “Pray also for this,” said the Secretary of State, who cherishes a personal attachment to Pope Luciani, who was his Metropolitan Archbishop when he was a seminarian of the diocese of Vicenza in the 70s.
Speaking of the conclusion of the Cause of Beatification, the Cardinal hoped that it would take place soon, “if there is a miracle.” “Once the decree is approved on the heroic exercise of the Christian virtues, if there is a miracle, I think nothing great will be lacking for the conclusion of the Cause,” he said. “The prior condition is the miracle; I believe there is already something. If the miracle is approved, one will proceed speedily.”
John Paul I’s Cause of Beatification was re-launched in July 2016, with a new Postulator in the person of Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.
Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, was elected Pope on August 26, 1978. He died suddenly of a heart attack the following September 28, after a pontificate of 33 days.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
