John Paul I and Paul VI

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I have always wondered what God was trying to show us through the short pontificate of John Paul I. God’s smile is often attributed to trying to understand why the Holy Spirit brought Cardinal Luciani (I think that was his original name) to the Petrine Ministry. His existence though as pope has often tugged at my curiosity. Same with Paul VI, what a thankless job he had…to unravel ideas of Vatican II into pragmatic decisions and directions…then Benedict’s short 8 years and his remarkable leadership in resigning.

What are peoples’ thoughts about what God, through the Holy Spirit, was telling us through JP I, Paul VI and Benedict XVI?

Thoughts?

trickster
Bruce
 
Benedict’s life and witness, happily, is ongoing. His tremendous body of work speaks for itself. Pope Paul did face enormous challenges. Perhaps the lesson I learn from both of them is that with grace we can rise above our supposed limitations. I think both of them were/are very reserved by nature, and did not have the apparent charisma of St. John Paul II (I like writing that 🙂 ) or even Pope Francis.

John Paul I’s cause of canonization is open and ongoing. His very short pontificate in no way diminishes the sanctity of his life and work. The lesson here, I suppose, is that none of us are insignificant - even if it appears to the world that we did not accomplish much (although just being named pope is a great achievement on its own!). But really, I can only speculate (and I do not spend much time at that) on why God called Pope John Paul I away so suddenly.
 
John Paul I was really a pastor, a saintly and holy man. Maybe the Church was not ready for such a soul.
 
The work of Pope Paul VI was obviously an inspiration to both Popes John Paul and John Paul II or they would not have chosen the names they did. Pope Saint John Paul II certainly thought that Pope John Paul had the right idea name-wise.

Perhaps Pope John Paul will be most remembered as the Pope who understood that the vision of his two immediate predecessors had to be carried out.
 
Each Pope was what we needed for that point in time. Although Pope John Paul I has a very short pontificate, we know that he himself knew it would be a short one. Somehow he had some insight that there would be a Pope John Paul II. Besides his precious writings, humility, joy through his smile (which the Italians called, ‘The Smile of God’) I’d say his greatest contribution was in simplifying the papacy. He started the tradition of having a Papal Inauguration Mass with the placement of the pallium instead of a Papal Coronation.

I often say that Pope Francis reminds me a lot of Pope John Paul I, especially when studying the life of Albino Luciani.

If you want to see what then-Cardinal Ratzinger said about Pope John Paul I, here’s the interview (Hint: Benedict XVI considers him a saint.):

albino-luciani.com/index.php?id=55&L=3
 
I’m actually surprised that Pope Benedict is even mentioned in this list. I think in 8 years he did much more than anyone can imagine. Just think about the Summorum Pontificum and the impact it had on the Church.
 
There was an American priest years ago in one of the chat rooms I used to frequent who was very close to John Paul I. Before he became a priest this man married an English woman and they had a child. While he was fighting in the war, both his wife and child were killed in the bombing of London. He was in such despair that he could not go back to America but settled in Italy searching for reasons to go on.While in Venice he met a very caring and compassionate priest, Albino Luciani, who took him under his wing. Eventually this man became a priest, studied under Luciani and earned a doctorate in theology. A few days after Luciano became pope, he called the priest and invited him for dinner at the Vatican. Sadly John Paul I died before the dinner could take place. This priest spoke very fondly of John Paul I as saving him and bringing him to the priesthood.
 
SMHW said:
The work of Pope Paul VI was obviously an inspiration to both Popes John Paul and John Paul II or they would not have chosen the names they did. Pope Saint John Paul II certainly thought that Pope John Paul had the right idea name-wise.

Perhaps Pope John Paul will be most remembered as the Pope who understood that the vision of his two immediate predecessors had to be carried out.
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Yes! Of course…and he did so for those brief 30 days with a smile, a gentleness yet a resolved manner in moving foward with Vatican II.

Bruce
 
janeway529 said:
Each Pope was what we needed for that point in time. Although Pope John Paul I has a very short pontificate, we know that he himself knew it would be a short one. Somehow he had some insight that there would be a Pope John Paul II. Besides his precious writings, humility, joy through his smile (which the Italians called, ‘The Smile of God’) I’d say his greatest contribution was in simplifying the papacy. He started the tradition of having a Papal Inauguration Mass with the placement of the pallium instead of a Papal Coronation.

I often say that Pope Francis reminds me a lot of Pope John Paul I, especially when studying the life of Albino Luciani.

If you want to see what then-Cardinal Ratzinger said about Pope John Paul I, here’s the interview (Hint: Benedict XVI considers him a saint.):

albino-luciani.com/index.php?id=55&L=3
Click to expand...
Yes, great interview…ah, I did not know about the Papal Inauguration Mass…that is cool. I am curious to learn more about his own sense of God’s callling… that his Petrine Ministry would be short lived. Do you have any sources I could review? Thanks.

Bruce
 
ealfred said:
I’m actually surprised that Pope Benedict is even mentioned in this list. I think in 8 years he did much more than anyone can imagine. Just think about the Summorum Pontificum and the impact it had on the Church.
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Your right. I was really thinking about the time spent in office as opposed to what was accomplished… indeed these response posts are saying that JP I also accomplished much in symbolic ways that pointed the continued direction of the church since Vatican II in his short 30 odd days…

Benedict, of course, who could not say that he continued to follow the Holy Spirit in transitioning the church in terms of the direction inspired by the same spirit taken in Vatican II.

Bruce
 
Joannm said:
There was an American priest years ago in one of the chat rooms I used to frequent who was very close to John Paul I. Before he became a priest this man married an English woman and they had a child. While he was fighting in the war, both his wife and child were killed in the bombing of London. He was in such despair that he could not go back to America but settled in Italy searching for reasons to go on.While in Venice he met a very caring and compassionate priest, Albino Luciani, who took him under his wing. Eventually this man became a priest, studied under Luciani and earned a doctorate in theology. A few days after Luciano became pope, he called the priest and invited him for dinner at the Vatican. Sadly John Paul I died before the dinner could take place. This priest spoke very fondly of John Paul I as saving him and bringing him to the priesthood.
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Very cool! I suppose we are called to just live day by day in the good way outlined by the gospel and the teaching of the church… the rest will be interpreted or understand in good time (eternity standards by the way 🙂

Bruce
 
Actually, I wouldn’t consider 8 years a short reign (Pope Benedict). If you look at Church history, I believe the average papal reign was only around 9 or 10 years. One can accomplish a lot in just under a decade! 🙂 Typically older men are elected to the throne of Peter, who have already served the Church as bishops for many years.
 
twf said:
Actually, I wouldn’t consider 8 years a short reign (Pope Benedict). If you look at Church history, I believe the average papal reign was only around 9 or 10 years. One can accomplish a lot in just under a decade! 🙂 Typically older men are elected to the throne of Peter, who have already served the Church as bishops for many years.
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Interesting point twf…never knew that fact… so it makes Benedict’s pontificate pretty in line with the average…he of course, would still be the pope for the remainder of his years if it were not for his retirement…but yes… good point…
 
We have had plenty of short pontificates in history. Why they were permitted by God is a mystery. For a great deal of popes who did have a “decent run” were less than effective and barely adequate.
 
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