John Paul I, ‘Smiling Pope’

Pope John Paul I, who died in 1978 after only 33 days as pontiff, moved closer to sainthood on Sunday with the Vatican still having to dismiss lingering conspiracy theories that he was a victim of foul play.
Pope Francis beatified his predecessor at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square before tens of thousands of people. Beatification is the last step before sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church.
John Paul was known as “The Smiling Pope” because of his meekness and simplicity.
Born Albino Luciani into poverty in a northern Italian mountain village in 1912, he was ordained a priest in 1935, a bishop in 1958 and a cardinal in 1973.
He was elected pope on Aug. 26, 1978 following the death of Pope Paul VI, taking the name John Paul to honour his two immediate predecessors.