Witness History
Witness History
The Sudden Death of Pope John Paul I
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September 29, 2017
11 minutes
Available for over a year
Just 33 days into his reign, Pope John Paul I unexpectedly died in September 1978. He was discovered in the early morning lying on his bed, a collection of sermons in his hand. He was considered an excellent communicator, and his warm personality earned him the nick name of "the smiling Pope". But his death shook the church. Rebecca Kesby spoke to Cardinal Beniamino Stella who knew him well.
(PHOTO: Pope John Paul I. Credit: Getty Images.)