The town of Canale d'Agordo near Belluno (Veneto) is to inaugurate a museum dedicated to its most famous son, Albino Luciani, who was elected Pope John Paul 1 in August 1978. Although Luciani occupied the Throne of Peter for only one month before his unexpected death on the 28th September, he left a lasting impression because of his cheerful and benevolent disposition, that earned him the nickname of the Smiling Pope.
Born to a working class family, he found his vocation early and was ordained a priest at the age of twenty-three. At the time of his election, he was the Patriarch of Venice. It is said he was reluctant to become Pope and when the results of the conclave election were revealed he remarked: May God forgive your for what you have doneť.
Luciani intended to bring in sweeping reforms. However, his premature death meant that many of these were put on hold for another quarter century.
The Museum Albino Luciani (MUSAL) of Canale d'Agordo will be inaugurated on the 26th August 2016, the 36th Anniversary of his papal election.
Info: www.fondazionepapaluciani.it
