Anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul I

Today is the anniversary of the election of Albino Luciani as pope.

Sixty five-year-old Cardinal Luciani was patriarch in Venice when he was elected pope on August 26, 1978.

He took the name John Paul I.

Thirty three days later the world learned of his death. He was succeeded by Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Cracow.

Luciani was first appointed a bishop at age 45 when Pope John XXIII ordained him bishop of Vittorio Veneto in 1958.

Albino Luciani is the last Italian pontiff and was known as the 'Smiling Pope'.