As I do frequently, I try to read what is available about Pope John Paul I, Papa Luciani. I hope to keep his name alive and in the minds of many as long as I can. As I have said many times in the past, I believe he will be declared a saint someday, and I hope to be alive when this happens and in attendance at the canonization Mass. Wouldn’t it be great if I could assist as deacon at that Mass? (I know God, I am asking a bit much there…. but maybe??)
I was reading this evening a short quote from Cardinal Silvio Oddi who shortly after Luciani’s election said (my translation of the Italian):
After the first vote, there immediately surfaced a name. Unexpectedly. “Luciani. Why not?” many said. A good person, intelligent and pious. And the consensus rapidly spread. We thought of him like a new Pius X, also a patriarch of Venice. A good and holy pope, yet decisive in defending doctrine. We felt the need for him after the confusion of the post-conciliar period.
If this reflects the mind of the cardinal electors during the conclave of August, 1978, then it opens up an interesting avenue to study and consider. In what ways were Luciani and Pope St. Pius X similar in spirituality, approach and manner? Oddi’s comment seems to indicate that Luciani was considered a “conservative” candidate in terms of his orthodoxy and pastoral approaches. It will be interesting to learn in what ways, if any, was the piety of Luciani and Pius X similar and dissimilar.
If any of my readers have looked into this, I am all ears and would like to know whatever you may have found.
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