August 1978 papal conclave

The August 1978 papal conclave, the first of the two conclaves held that year, was convoked after the death of Pope Paul VI on 6 August 1978 at Castel Gandolfo. After the cardinal electors assembled in Rome, they elected Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, as the new pope on the fourth ballot. He accepted the election and took the name of John Paul.

Papal conclave
August 1978
Dates and location
25 August 1978 – 26 August 1978
Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace,
Vatican City
Key officials
DeanCarlo Confalonieri
Sub-deanPaolo Marella
CamerlengoJean-Marie Villot
ProtopriestCarlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Motta
ProtodeaconPericle Felici
SecretaryErnesto Civardi
Election
Ballots4
Elected pope
Albino Luciani
Name taken: John Paul I

It was the first conclave since the promulgation of Ingravescentem aetatem (1970), which made cardinals who had reached the age of 80 by the day the conclave began ineligible to participate in the balloting. There were 15 cardinals excluded by that rule. The number of votes cast for Luciani on the final ballot was so great that even the uniform opposition of these cardinals would not have changed the outcome.[1]

Papabili

Among the papabili, or top candidates, were Sergio Pignedoli, President of the Secretariat for Non-Christians, Giuseppe Siri of Genoa, and Corrado Ursi of Naples. Others named Giovanni Benelli of Florence, until recently Vatican Secretary of State, Sebastiano Baggio, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and non-cardinal Anastasio Ballestrero, Archbishop of Turin.[2] The non-Italian most often mentioned was Johannes Willebrands, Archbishop of Utrecht.[3] Aloísio Lorscheider of Brazil, head of the Episcopal Conference of Latin America, favored Albino Luciani, the Patriarch of Venice, while Luciani is believed to have favoured Lorscheider.[4] Time reported that the Dean of the College, Carlo Confalonieri, who was excluded from participating because of age, had been the first to suggest Luciani.[5]

Proceedings and balloting
The newly elected Pope John Paul I (on left), with Monsignor Virgilio Noè, then Papal Master of Ceremonies.

The conclave was held for two days from 25 August 1978 to 26 August 1978 at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Cardinal John Wright, an official of the Roman Curia, was in the U.S. for medical treatments and unable to attend.[6] Proceedings on 25 August 1978 included a Mass celebrated at St. Peter's Basilica by the cardinal electors for divine guidance in their task to elect Pope Paul's successor. Six hours later, the cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel whilst the chapel choir sang the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus. Monsignor Virgilio Noè, the Papal Master of Ceremonies, gave the traditional command of Extra omnes ("Everybody out!"), the doors were locked, and then the actual conclave began, with Cardinal Villot presiding (as would happen again in October) due to being the senior Cardinal bishop in attendance. The chapel windows remained closed, some sealed, and the summer heat was oppressive. Belgian Cardinal Leo Suenens later wrote: "My room was an oven. My cell was a kind of sauna."[7] The conclave of August 1978 was the largest ever assembled. To accommodate the electors, the traditional canopied thrones were replaced with twelve long tables. Karol Wojtyła, Aloísio Lorscheider, and Bernardin Gantin reportedly served as scrutineers during the balloting.

Luciani had told his secretary that he would decline the papacy if elected.[8] During the third ballot, Johannes Willebrands and António Ribeiro, who sat on either side of Luciani, whispered words of encouragement to him as he continued to receive more votes. Jaime Sin told Luciani "You will be the new pope".[9] Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot and when Jean-Marie Villot asked Luciani whether he accepted his election he said, "May God forgive you for what you have done" and accepted his election. In honor of his two immediate predecessors, he took John Paul as his regnal name. After the election when Cardinal Sin paid him homage, the new pope said: "You were a prophet, but my reign will be a short one".[9]

On 26 August 1978 at 6:24 p.m. local time (4:24 p.m. UTC), the first signs of smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. It was unclear for over an hour whether the smoke was white to indicate a pope had been elected or black to indicate that balloting would continue. Some of the cardinals had personally deposited their notes and tally sheets in the stove, darkening what should have been white smoke. Pericle Felici, as the ranking Cardinal Deacon, then stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and delivered the Habemus Papam in Latin, announcing Luciani's election.[10] At 7:31 p.m. John Paul I appeared on the balcony and gave his blessing. When he appeared about to address the crowd, he was reminded that was not traditional, and he withdrew without speaking further.[7] He invited the cardinal electors to remain in conclave for another night and dined with them, occupying the same chair as he had at their earlier group dinners.[7]

This was the first conclave since 1721 in which three future popes participated–John Paul I, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI–and the first since 1829 in which two did so.

Reported voting tallies
PAPAL CONCLAVE, AUGUST 1978
Duration 2 days
Number of ballots 4
Electors 111
Africa 13
Latin America 19
North America 11
Asia 8
Europe 56
Oceania 4
Italians 26
DECEASED POPE PAUL VI (1963–1978)
NEW POPE JOHN PAUL I (1978)

Several authors have provided what they claim to be the vote totals at the conclave. Cardinals were not required to destroy notes they took during the conclave.

Yallop tally

As presented by David Yallop, who claims that John Paul I was murdered.[11]

  • First Ballot: Siri 25, Luciani 23, Pignedoli 18, Lorscheider 12, Baggio 9, scattered 24.
  • Second Ballot: Siri 35, Luciani 30, Pignedoli 15, Lorscheider 12, scattered 19.
  • Third Ballot: Luciani 68, Siri 15, Pignedoli 10, scattered 18.
  • Fourth Ballot: Luciani 99, Siri 11, Lorscheider 1 (cast by Luciani).
Burkle-Young tally

As presented by Francis A. Burkle-Young,[12] based on the notes of Cardinal Mario Casariego, Archbishop of Guatemala City.[7]

  • First Ballot: Siri 25, Luciani 23, Pignedoli 18, Baggio 9, König 8, Bertoli 5, Pironio 4, Felici 2, Lorscheider 2, and 15 others one each.
  • Second Ballot: Luciani 53, Siri 24, Pignedoli 15, Lorscheider, Baggio, Cordeiro, Wojtyła 4 each, Felici 3.
  • Third Ballot: Luciani 92, Pignedoli 17, Lorscheider 2.
  • Fourth Ballot: Luciani 102, Lorscheider 1 (cast by Luciani), Nemini (no one) 8.
Thomas-Witts tally

As presented by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts.[13]

  • First Ballot: same as Burkle-Young's count except 5 votes for Pironio, fourteen candidates with 1.
  • Second Ballot: Luciani 46, Pignedoli 19, Lorscheider 14, Baggio 11, Bertoli 4, others unspecified.
  • Third Ballot: Luciani 66, Pignedoli 21, Lorscheider 1 (cast by Aramburu), others unspecified.
  • Fourth Ballot: Luciani 96, Pignedoli 10, Lorscheider 1 (cast by Aramburu).

According to one report of the balloting, French traditionalist Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre received a small number of votes—variously reported as three or "several"—causing some consternation among the cardinals.[14]

Cardinals ineligible to participate

The rule Paul VI established in Ingravescentem aetatem (1970) and reiterated in Romano Pontifici Eligendo (1975) limited participation in the conclave to cardinals who had yet to reach the age of 80 on the first day of the conclave. The August 1978 conclave was the first in which this rule applied. The 15 cardinals ineligible to participate in both 1978 conclaves were:

See also

References
  1. Reese, Thomas (1998). Inside the Vatican. Harvard University Press. p. 101. Retrieved 22 June 2018. According to Reese, 16 cradinals were excluded from voted because of their age.
  2. Tanner, Henry (7 August 1978). "Pope Paul VI Is Dead of a Heart Attack at 80; Guided the Church Through Era of Change". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  3. Hofmann, Paul (9 August 1978). "Choice of Non‐Italian Pope Held Possible but Unlikely". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  4. Reese, Thomas (1998). Inside the Vatican. Harvard University Press. p. 93. ISBN 9780674418028. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. "A Swift, Stunning Choice". Time. 4 September 1978.
  6. "Leading U.S. Cardinal To Miss Papal Voting". New York Times. 9 August 1978. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  7. "A look back at the Conclave that elected Albino Luciani Pope". La Stampa. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  8. Allen Jr., John L. (2 November 2012). "Debunking four myths about John Paul I, the 'Smiling Pope'". National Catholic Reporter.
  9. Knowles, Leo (2003). Modern Heroes of the Church. Our Sunday Visitor.
  10. Nossiter, Bernard D. (27 August 1978). "Venice Cardinal Elected Pope". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  11. Yallop, David (2007). In God's Name. Basic Books. ISBN 0-553-05073-7. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  12. Burkle-Young, Frances A. Passing the Key: Modern Cardinals, Conclaves, and the Election of the Next Popes. ISBN 1-56833-130-4.
  13. Thomas, Gordon; Morgan-Witts, Max (1983). Pontiff:The Vatican, the KGB, and the Year of the Three Popes. Doubleday. ISBN 0-451-12951-2.
  14. White, David Allen (2006). The Horn of the Unicorn. Angelus Press. ISBN 189233139X.
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