Pope John
Paul I was the first pope to have two names. He wanted
to continue the work of Pope Paul VI and Pope John XXIII even
though Pope John Paul I was a traditionalist, and Vatican II took some
adjusting.
Born Albino Luciani in Canale
d'Angordo near Belluno, Italy, on October 17, 1912, Pope John Paul I became a
seminarian at 11 years old, a priest at 23 years old, and was the
Patriarch of Venice from 1969 until he became pope on September 3,
1978. Pope John Paul I held a theology degree from Gregorian
University in Rome.
Because of his rural background and
his ability to explain the catechism simplistically, Pope John Paul I was called "The
Peasant Pope." He was also called "The Smiling Pope."
Pope John
Paul I was a catechism teacher by profession and wrote Bits
and Pieces of the Catechism (Catechesi in briciole) and
llustrissimi.
llustrissimi was a collection
of articles Pope John Paul I wrote
for St. Anthony's Messenger consisting of letters
written to biblical, historical, literary, and imaginary characters.
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