26 August: Liturgical memorial of Blessed John Paul I
The space of a smile
“Our new Blessed lived that way: in the joy of the Gospel, without compromises, loving to the very end. He embodied the poverty of the disciple, which is not only detachment from material goods, but also victory over the temptation to put oneself at the centre, to seek one’s own glory”, Pope Francis said in his homily for the Beatification of John Paul I, in the world, Albino Luciani, held in Saint Peter’s Square on 4 September 2022.
The Pontiff highlighted that, following the example of Jesus, the new Blessed, “was a meek and humble pastor” who “thought of himself as dust on which God deigned to write”. He recalled the words of John Paul I at the General Audience of 6 September 1978: “The Lord recommended it so much: be humble. Even if you have done great things, say: ‘We are useless servants”.
“With a smile”, Pope Francis noted, John Paul I “managed to communicate the goodness of the Lord. How beautiful is a Church with a happy, serene and smiling face, a Church that never closes doors, never hardens hearts, never complains or harbours resentment, does not grow angry or impatient, does not look dour or suffer nostalgia for the past, falling into an attitude of going backwards”.
The date of his liturgical memorial, 26 August, was chosen because it was the day Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, was elected Pope in 1978.
In his Urbi et Orbi message in the Sistine Chapel on 27 August 1978, Pope John Paul I outlined the course of his Pontificate: continuing a reform in harmony with the reference points that inspired him: Vatican Council II and Saint Francis de Sales.
During his discourse, John Paul I highlighted his desire to continue “in the wake of that drawn from the great heart of John XXIII” and outlined six wishes. The first wish was “to put into effect the heritage of the Second Vatican Council. Its wise norms should be followed out and perfected. We must be wary of that effort that is generous perhaps but unwarranted. It would not achieve the content and meaning of the Council. On the other hand, we must avoid an approach that is hesitant and fearful—which thus would not realize the magnificent impulse of the renewal and of life”.
His second wish was to “preserve the integrity of the great discipline of the Church in the life of priests and of the faithful”, which he described as “a rich treasure in history”, which throughout the ages, “presented an example of holiness and heroism, both in the exercise of the evangelical virtues and in service to the poor, the humble, the defenceless”. He also announced his intention to revise the Codes of Canon Law of the Oriental Church and of the Latin Church. In his third wish, he reminded the whole Church that her “first duty is that of evangelization. Our Predecessor, Paul VI, presented the directions for this in his memorable document: animated by faith, nourished by the Word of God, and strengthened by the heavenly food of the Eucharist, one should study every way, seek every means ‘in season and out of season’, to spread the word, to proclaim the message, to announce that salvation which creates in the soul a restlessness to pursue truth and at the same time offers strength from above”.
He then invited all “all the sons and daughters of the Church” to be “tireless missionaries of the Gospel, a new flowering of holiness and renewal would spring up in this world that thirsts for love and for truth”. The fourth wish addressed continuing ecumenical efforts which “we consider a final directive from our immediate Predecessors. We watch with an unchanging faith, with a dauntless hope and with endless love for the realization of that great command of Christ: ‘That they may all be one’. His heart anxiously beats for this on the eve of his sacrifice on Calvary. The mutual relationships among the churches of the various denominations have made constant and extraordinary advances as anyone can see; yet division remains a cause for concern, and indeed a contradiction and scandal in the eyes of non-Christians and non-believers”.
His fifth wish was on the continuation with “patience but firmness” of “that serene and constructive dialogue that Paul VI had at the base of his plan and programme for pastoral action. The main theme for this was set forth in his great Encyclical Letter, Ecclesiam Suam, namely, that men, as men, should know one another, even those who do not share our faith. We trust always be ready to give witness of the faith that is ours and of the mission that Christ has given to us, ‘that the world may believe’”. Lastly, the sixth wish was in support of all “ laudable, worthy initiatives that can safeguard and increase peace in our troubled world”. He called “all good men, all who are just, honest, true of heart” , to help “build up a dam within their nations against blind violence which can only destroy and sow seeds of ruin and sorrow. So, too, in international life, they might bring men to mutual understanding to combining efforts that would further social progress, overcome hunger of body and ignorance of the mind and advance those who are less endowed with goods of this earth, yet rich in energy and desire”.
Born into a humble family on 17 October 1912 in Forno di Canale (today known as Canale d’Agordo) in the Province of Belluno, Albino Luciani was baptized by the midwife because his life was in danger. His father, John, worked as a seasonal migrant in Germany, France, Switzerland and Argentina. His mother, Bortola, was a fervid Catholic and had a crucial role in the family’s growth in faith.
In October 1918, Albino began elementary school, and in 1923, he entered the minor Seminary of Feltre. Five years later, he studied at the Gregorian Seminary of Belluno. He was ordained on 7 July 1935 in the Church of Saint Peter in Belluno. On 18 December of the same year, he was appointed Curate of Agordo and served as a religion teacher at the local technical school for miners. During that time, he joined the Apostolic Union of Clergy. He was appointed Vice Rector of the Gregorian Seminary of Belluno in July 1937, a position he held for ten years. In August 1944, during World War II, he interceded to prevent the shooting of some men.
The new Bishop of Belluno, Girolamo Bortignon, who had great admiration for Fr Albino, appointed him Pro-Chancellor of the Diocese in November 1947 and secretary of the Synod. On 2 February 1948, he was appointed Pro-Vicar General and Director of the Catechism Office, and in December 1949, he published, Catechetica in briciole, (Catechism in crumbs) for the formation of catechists. The new Bishop of Belluno, Msgr. Gioacchino Muccin, appointed him Vicar General on 6 February 1954.
During those years, he was also a free-lance journalist for the diocesan weekly publication , L’Amico del popolo” (Friend of the People). In 1956, he organized the first Cineforum for citizens (discussions about films) and on 30 June 1956 he was appointed Canon of the Cathedral.
On 15 December 1958, John XXIII appointed him Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, and ordained him a Bishop in the Vatican Basilica. His episcopal motto contained only one word: humilitas, after the example of Saint Charles Borromeo.
He was committed to the formation of the clergy and of the laity and to catechesis, and made two pastoral visits. He established close relations with the Sisters of the Child Mary, who served in the Diocese, in particular with Sister Vincenza Taffarel, who followed him in his travels up until his arrival to Rome. He remained in touch with the Sisters for the rest of his life.
He participated in four sessions of Vatican Council II between 1962 and 1965, and on 15 December 1969, Paul VI appointed him Patriarch of Venice. He officially entered Venice as Patriarch, on 18 February 1970, and began his pastoral visit on 25 October. In June 1972, he was appointed Vice President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, a position he held until 2 June 1975. On 16 September 1972, he received a visit from Paul VI, who unexpectedly, placed his stole around his shoulders, before a crowd gathered in Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s Square).
On 5 March 1973, Pope Paul VI created him a Cardinal, assigning him the title of San Marco. On 18 May 1975, the Patriarch went on a pastoral visit to Germany, and from 6-21 November, he travelled to Brazil where he was conferred with an honorary degree by the State University of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul. From 30 September to 29 October, 1977, he participated in the IV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Catechesis in Our Time”
Venice had its share of problems and situations to be solved. We remember him for his theology his teachings in the Seminary and his zeal in implementing a liturgical renewal in some parishes.
He always supported the Catholic Press and wrote articles on current issues for the publication, Messaggero di Sant’Antonio, which were later collected into a volume, titled, Illustrissimi.
On 6 August 1978, Paul VI passed away in Castel Gandolfo. After only two days of conclave, the Patriarch of Venice was elected Pontiff. He chose the name John Paul and made notable changes: he did not want to celebrate the coronation rite, he did not wear the tiara, which Paul VI had also abandoned, to be closer to the poor, and he did not use the royal we in his discourses and catecheses. He died on 28 September 1978. His mortal remains are in the Vatican Grottoes.