Foundation dedicated to ‘the smiling Pope’

WelCom July 2020:

Pope John Paul I, ‘the smiling pope’, will have a foundation dedicated to his memory, the Vatican has announced. The move is a sign of how much the late pontiff is a point of reference for his successor, Francis. Called the ‘Vatican John Paul I Foundation’, the new entity is tasked with ‘the promotion and dissemination of the thought, words and example of John Paul I’. Albino Luciani was born in 1912 in Italy’s northern Veneto region. He was elected pope at the age of 65, taking the name Pope John Paul to honour his immediate predecessors, St John XXIII and St Paul VI.

His death on September 30, 1978, just 33 days after he was elected pope, sent shockwaves around the world. The Vatican announced that he died of a heart attack, but there have been decades of speculation and conspiracy theories about his final hours. In 2017 Francis signed the decree of heroic virtue allowing ‘Papa Luciani’ as he is fondly remembered among Italians, to be referred to as ‘Venerable’.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December

‘As has been the custom for many years an archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on our diocesan feast day, 7pm, Thursday 8 December, at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori. The archdiocese will again be entrusted to the care of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception at this Mass. Parishes are asked to renew that Consecration on the following Sunday, 11 December, at All parish Masses.’ – Cardinal John Dew

Dates and events – what’s on

December 2022

If you would like your event listed on this page, please send an outline to welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz including name of event, date, time, location and contact.

Pope Francis registers for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon

At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis registered for the next World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. Assisted and accompanied by Portuguese university students studying in Rome, the Pope tapped his way to becoming the first officially registered pilgrim for World Youth Day.