Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2—The Georgia Bulletin, October 5,1978
Pope John Paul’s Reign
Shortest In 400 Years
VATICAN CITY (NC) - The 34-day reign of Pope John Paul
I was by far the shortest in nearly four centuries - since Leo XI
in 1605 - but it was not the shortest in history.
The shortest pontificate was that of the Roman priest
Stephen, who died four days after his election in March 752. It
was so short that there is a question whether Stephen should be
included in a list of popes. He died before his episcopal
consecration and, according to the canon law of the time, the
pontificate began with episcopal consecration.
Under the present rules governing papal elections, issued by
Pope Paul VI in 1975, the person elected is pope from the
moment he accepts election. If he is not a bishop, he is
immediately ordained a bishop. Thus Stephen II would
definitely be a pope if elected under today’s rules.
Of those whom church historians regard without question as
popes, the one who reigned for the shortest time was Pope
Urban VII, who held the office for 13 days, Sept. 15-27,1590.
Despite the shortness of his reign, Pope Urban VII
encouraged public works to reduce unemployment in the papal
states, regulated the finances of lending institutions, planned
agencies for dispensing alms and began the reform of the datary,
the curial office which dealt with benefices, or church offices to
which revenue is attached.
The last reign shorter than Pope John Paul’s was in 1605,
when Pope Leo XI reigned 27 days, April 1-27. (In counting the
number of days in a pontificate, both the day of election and
the day of death are counted.
Seven other pontificates were shorter than that of Pope John
Paul I. They were those of:
- Innocent IX, 33 days, Oct. 29-Nov. 30, 1591.
- Pius III, 27 days, Sept. 22-Oct. 18, 1503.
- Damasus II, 24 days, July 17-Aug. 9,1048.
- Marcellus II, 23 days, April 9-May 1, 1555.
- Sylvester III, 22 days, Jan. 20-Feb. 10,1045.
- Sisinnius, 21 days, Jan. 15-Feb. 4, 708.
- Celestine IV, 17 days, Oct. 25-Nov. 10,1241.
The longest pontificate in history was that of Pope Pius IX,
who was elected June 16, 1846 and died Feb. 7, 1878, after
having reigned 31 years, seven months and 22 days.
There is uncertainty about the length of the reign of St.
Peter, the first pope. Church historians accept 25 years as the
length of his tenure as bishop of Rome, although the year of his
death is variously given as either 64 or 67. It is believed that he
resided in Antioch for about seven years before coming to
Rome.
Pius IX’s successor, Pope Leo XIII, had the second-longest
tenure as bishop of Rome, 25 years, five months and one day
from Feb. 20, 1878 to July 20,1903.
Other long pontificates include those of:
- Pius VI, 24 years, six months and 15 days, from Feb. 15,
1775 to Aug. 29, 1799.
- Adrian I, 23 years, 10 months and 24 days, from Feb. 1,
772 to Dec. 24, 795.
- Pius VII, 23 years, five months and seven days, March 14,
1800 to Aug. 20, 1823.
NEW IN JUNE 78 AND
NOW IN ITS 5TH PRINTING!
A BOOK THE WORLD
CANNOT IGNORE!
[neon
Jtibles
A STUDY OF THE INCORRUPTION OF THE BODIES
OF VARIOUS SAINTS AND BEATI
I The author spent five years
researching 102 saints and
beati.
I Gives a resume of each life
and the documented story of
the finding of their incorrupt
bodies.
Describes surprising factors
surrounding these bodies—no
rigor mortis, complete
flexibility, bleeding when cut.
fragrance of heavenly flowers,
etc.
Bodies were recovered under
every conceivable
circumstance that should have
caused their decay—burial in
water and in lime, being left in
the open air, mutilation.
Proof that such incorruption is
not due to natural
mummification; documented
proof that it is not due to
embalming or artificial means
34 fascinating pictures of the
saints and their shrines
Because of this book, many
will finally understand that
bodily incorruption is in fact a
reality in the world of religion.
A book destined to spark the
interest even of agnostics and
unbelievers.
I
310 PAGES.
|PAPERBOUND
| IMPRIMATUR
5°°
i
TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC.
P O Box 424, Dept 311 Rockford. Illinois 61105
Please send me .
_ copy (copies) of The Incorruptibles
Enclosed is my payment in the amount of_
Candidates’Health Will Be Questioned
- "^9
GETTING READY - The Sistine
Chapel will look like this when the
College of Cardinals moves in to begin
the selection of a new pope on
October 14. Traditionally, when a
new pope is named, the canopy over
the head of each cardinal is lowered as
a sign of respect and humility. A
spartanly furnished room (below)
such as this one will serve as home for
each cardinal during the conclave.
VATICAN CITY (NC) - In a sad replay
of what occurred Aug. 26, the
cardinal-electors will reenter the sealed-off
rooms of the conclave Oct. 14.
As the news of the conclave was
announced Sept. 30, ceremonies were being
prepared for the solemn transferral of the
mortal remains of Pope John Paul I from the
frescoed Sala Clementina in the Vatican
Palace to the inclined, maroon-draped bier
beneath the huge dome of St. Peter’s
Basilica.
Hundreds of thousands of people filed
past the lifeless body of the pope who
reigned only 34 days. Solemn burial rites
were held Oct. 4.
Despite torrential rains and often hours
of waiting in a line that sometimes stretched
over half a mile, the crowd was orderly and
prayerful. As they slipped past the bier,
many crossed themselves or made a
half-genuflection;
Around the world cardinals prepared to
make the sad return to Rome, again forced
to leave their large dioceses for several more
weeks.
About 30 cardinals were present in Rome
Sept. 30 as the pope’s body was borne high
in procession from the papal palace’s bronze
doors to the main altar of St. Peter’s. About
50,000 people watched the procession. Pope
John Paul I did not have a chance to
celebrate Mass at the majestic canopied altar
of St. Peter’s.
The remains of John Paul were exposed
in simplicity, similar to the way used for
Pope Paul less than two months before. His
mitred head rested on two velvet pillows and
he wore red Mass vestments and the pallium,
a white wool shoulder cape, with which he
had been invested solemnly during a Mass in
St. Peter’s Square Sept. 3.
Following the funeral ceremonies on Oct.
4, Pope John Paul’s body was placed in a
simple sarcophagus near the tombs of his
predecessors and namesakes John XXIII and
Paul VI.
As the required nine days of funeral
Masses for the deceased pontiff continued,
cardinals from 50 countries continued the
daily meetings at which the most pressing
affairs of the church are handled and the
details of the conclave determined.
As had happened at the death of Paul VI,
Cardinal Jean Villot, chamberlain of the
church, assumed control of papal goods.
Cardinal-Dean Carlo Confalonieri, 85,
again presided over the general
congregations. But, as happened at the last
conclave, he and other cardinals over 80 will
not be permitted to enter the spartanly
furnished conclave rooms housing the
cardinals who will elect the new pope.
Cardinal Villot, as senior cardinal-bishop,
was once again preparing to preside over the
second conclave of 197 8.
In August most of the cardinals had never
participated in a papal election.
But now all those eligible, except
American Cardinal John Wright and Polish
Cardinal Boleslaw Filipiak who were absent
for health reasons, will be veterans. Vatican
officials do not know yet whether Cardinals
Wright and Filipiak will attend.
Three cardinals, Genoa’s Giuseppe Siri,
Polish Primate Stefan Wyszynski and Paul
Leger, former archbishop of Montreal, will
be entering their fourth conclave.
In an interview with the Genoa daily IL
LAVORO, Cardinal Siri predicted that the
next conclave will last two or three days.
“It’s better that way. There will be a little
more time for reflection,” he said.
The cardinals are expected to want better
information this time on the health of
leading candidates. Belgium’s Cardinal Leo
Suenens and others admitted since Pope
John Paul’s election that they knew nothing
about his health record when they voted for
him.
Several electors said the cardinals will
seek another pastor to fill the papacy.
Roman Cardinal Giuseppe Paupini said in an
interview that the church needs a pastor of
souls who will reign “sweetly yet firmly,” in
defense of Catholic doctrine and morality.
Cardinal Timothy Manning of Los
Angeles, upon his Oct. 1 arrival in Rome said
he favored a pastoral pope like John Paul
who “spoke a language comprehensible to
all.”
“I believe that there are many such
candidates,” said the Los Angeles cardinal.
Pope’s Speeches Showed Warmth, Sense Of History
VATICAN CITY (NC) —
During his brief reign, Pope
John Paul I delivered 19
speeches - most of them
drawing on experiences from
his own life and from history.
Here are his views
expressed in those talks.
ON CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY: “Rome will
be a true Christian
community if God is honored
not only with an influx of
faithful in churches and not
only when private life is lived
morally, but also through
love of the poor.
“These people, said the
Roman deacon Lawrence, are
the real treasures of the
church.”
ON PAPAL PRIMACY:
“To my left and my right arc-
seated cardinals and bishops,
my brothers in the
episcopacy. I am only their
older brother.”
ON FAITH: “My mother
told me When I had grown up
a bit, ‘as a child you were
very sick. I had to carry you
from one doctor to another
and often stay up all night
with you. Do you believe
me?’
“How could I have said,
‘Mamma, I don’t believe you?
- Yes, I believe what you
said, but I believe especially
in you.’ And so it is with
faith. It is not a matter of
believing only the things God
reveals, but also of believing
in Him who loved us so
much.”
ON NON-BELIEVERS:
“As a bishop I was very near
those who do not believe in
God. I got the idea that these
people fight not against God
but against the mistaken idea
they have of God.”
ON HUMILITY: “The
Lord counseled us to be
humble. Even if we’ve done
great things, say ‘we are
useless servants.’ Our
tendency, however, is quite
the opposite - to put
ourselves on display.”
ON THE ELDERLY: “As
Bishop of Venice, now and
then I went to nursing homes.
Once I came upon an elderly
sick lady.
“‘ How’s it going, ma’am?’
“‘Well, I eat alright and its
warm enough.’
“‘Well, then, are you a
happy lady?’
mil
{ l)\
i L
L
tn
wyiiw
Ours is a world of custom
creations in the finest
continental tradition
prepared by a master chef.
• : ■ ,•* by/*- .f
“‘No,’ she said crying. ‘My
daughter-in-law and my son
never come to see me. I want
to see my grandchildren.’
“Food and heat are not
enough. There’s the heart. We
must also see to the needs of
the heart of our elderly.”
ON THE MIDDLE EAST:
“May the (Camp David)
meetings open the way
toward a just and complete
peace. Just, that is,
satisfactory to all involved.
Complete, that is, without
leaving unresolved any issues:
the problem of the
Palestinians, the security of
Israel, the holy city of
Jerusalem.”
ON DEFECTS IN THE
CHURCH: “If a mother is
sick, or if my Mamma
becomes lame, I love her all
the same. The same goes for
the church. If there are - and
there are - defects and
shortcomings, our affection
for the church must never
lessen.”
ON REDEMPTION: “A
woman, who confessed to me
many years ago, was
discouraged because she had
led a morally stormy life.
“‘May I ask you how old
you are,’ I questioned.
o
a
o.
o
It’s a world of elegant service
in a room that sparkles alive
with magnificent chandeliers of
fine crystal.
It’s a world that delights the palate as it
uplifts the spirit with architectural vistas in
lassie time and space. Let our world take your
banquet or special event out of the s+y _ ■
ordinary and into the forever. % .
Call Our Director of
Catering. 88,-9500.
Sheraton-Biltmore 1
Restaurant
& Lounge
■ “‘Thirty-five.’
“‘Well, you can live
another 40 or 50 years and
do a pile of good. Contrite as
you are, don’t think of the
past, but project yourself
toward the future and renew
your life with God’s help.’”
ON DOCTRINE: “The
truths are what they are. We
must walk along that road,
understanding them always
more deeply, updating them,
and presenting them in a
form adapted to new times.”
ON CHRISTIAN
PILGRIMAGE: “When I was
a boy, I was in ecstasy
reading the voyages described
by Jules Veme in “20,000,
Leagues Under the Sea,’
‘Around the World in 80
Days,’ etc. But our voyages of
love toward God are much
more interesting.”
ON LIBERATION
THEOLOGY: “I think that
the church magisterium can
never insist enough on
presenting and offering
solutions to the great
problems of freedom, justice,
peace and development.
“Lay Catholics can never
work hard enough to
overcome these problems.
But is wrong to affirm that
political, social and economic
liberation coincides with
salvation in Jesus Christ, or
that the kingdom of God is
the same as the kingdom of
man, that where Lenin is,
there is Jerusalem.”
ON FREE WILL: “Once a
man went to the car dealer to
buy a car. The dealer told
him: ‘Look, the car is well
equipped. Treat it well with
premium gas and oil.’
“But the buyer said, ‘No, I
can’t even stand the smell of
gas and oil. I’ll lubricate the
engine with marmalade.’
“‘Do as you please,’ said
the dealer. ‘But don’t
complain to me if you wind
up in a ditch.’
“The Lord does something
similar with us. He gave us
these bodies enlivened with a
soul and free will. He said,
‘This mechanism is worth
something, treat it well.’”
ON LITURGY: “I would
like to see Rome give good
example with liturgies
celebrated piously and
without jarring ‘creativity.’
Such abuses have favored
reactionary attitudes which
have led to positions
untenable in themselves and
in contrast with the
Gospel... I would like to
assure you that every
liturgical irregularity will be
diligently avoided.”
(we send flowers worldwide)
ATLANTA 230-9404
Peachtree Battle Shopping Center
Flowers for all occasions
arranged to your individual
taste & decor
SHERAtON HOTELS & INNS WORLDWIDE
817 WEST PEACHTREE STREET N E . ATLANTA. GEORGIA 404/881-9500
A re-creation of northern
Italy In Atlanta. The
ultimate In food & spirits.
Our menu consists of
splendid Appetizers. Baked
Clams, Anltpasto &
Escargot. Entrees: Stuffed
Lobster Tails, Long Island
Duckling Flambe, Veal
Rollatlne, plus many
others.
Lounge Open 7 days
until 1 a.m.
Lunch Served Daily
from 11:30-4 p.m.
Dinner served 4-12 p.m.
5600 Roswell Rd
The Prado
Atlanta, Ga.
(404) 252-1989
We are proud
to have
Ronnie at
the Radis son!
Ronnie Spetalnick is in his 1 1th year serving
the Atlanta community with his professional
Catering Services.
Parties are splendidly served in one of our
elegant party rooms or at the site of your
ehoiee.
Call or visit him to discuss your catering needs.
ri ;^; radisson inn atlanta
l|F I 1-285 at Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd.
Atlanta, Georgia 30341 (404)-394-5000
4
.4
*