1978 Papal Conclave

The 1978 Papal Conclave was the secret process by which cardinals of the Catholic Church elected Pope John Paul I after Pope Paul VI's death. Held in August, the conclave involved 111 cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel to choose a successor through voting. The process included prayer, discussion, and multiple ballots, leading to the selection of Albino Luciani as pope. His reign lasted only 33 days, making it one of the shortest papacies. The conclave exemplifies how the Church reliably selects leaders through a guided, confidential process involving senior clergy.