XXV Anniversary 1978 - 26 August - 2003 Election of John Paul I

"Amici di Papa Luciani" has a meeting for the first time since its birth three years ago. A very expected meeting above all because of the important date like the celebration of the XXV anniversary of our beloved don Albino's Papal election.

Our base has been the Centro Papa Luciani at Santa Giustina Bellunese. Fourteen members taking part. Msgr. Giorgio Lise, Director of the Center and Vice-postulator of the Cause of Beatification of Pope Luciani, have welcomed us with much kindness. Also sister Mauriza, the Superior.

Towards 4.00 pm, don Giorgio took us along and arround the Center and explained us its story. Then, we have watched a video on Pope Luciani and, at the end, don Giorgio has explained us the different steps of the Cause of Beatification and said it will officially begin in Autumn (n.f.a: some days later, Msgr Bishop Savio has confirmed the beginning on November 23th). Don Giorgio has also said the process could last many years, even ten years. After saying that "Amici" has exclaimed: "Hey, nooo!!!" We hope not. All we wish not to have to wait for so much time!

Then, the group has gone in another conference-room and sat around a table where Max has shown some bibliography and articles appeared on newspapers to commemorate the anniversary and each one of us has told the own story on our meeting with Pope Luciani's figure. The only one of us, don Angelo, spiritual guide of the meeting and Max's parish Priest, has met personally don Albino who, in that moment, was a young Priest and held a course in the Diocese of Padova and don Angelo took part of it as seminarist.

After supper, we came back to the conference-room to listen to don Ettore Fornezza, from Venice, a member of the Club, too, who told us his story, how don Albino has been a father for him, a model of Priest. He received the sacerdotal ordination in 1974 by Luciani's hands. He made us laugh and enjoy with many anecdotes, some of them unknown that have let us find out a still more human Luciani. Don Ettore... a faithful Priest, a Priest who has been close to him during the most difficult situations of the Venetian Church history during the don Albino's Patriarcate.

25 years ago...

It's 07.25 am, August 26^th, 2003. I couldn't close an eye tonight, sunk by many thoughts and memories that filled my mind, above all being aware of finding myself breathing the same pure air of the mountains of this Bellunese land, here, at the Centro Papa Luciani at Santa Giustina Bellunese, all full of the presence of a son of this land who is in Heaven and today we will celebrate him with much joy thanking his "Yes" to the Lord to become His Vicar...

Don Albino... A providencial yes that has changed the history and the life of the Church and has changed the life of many persons like me. The memory of his first appearance endured after the election. It seemed that the Holy Spirit, after coming down on him, once the windows of the Vatican Basilica balcony were opened and appeared to be seen by all the world, had come down on the crowd and spread arriving to those who were watching TV in that moment.

It was enough a smile, sometimes the fascinating shyness, the emotion of the election that made him shake his voice, the greeting with the hand that has won all our hearts. But a thing we have perceived immediately: love... a father's love who loves everybody a lot... and his sons... us... we have repayed him. We have understood, that day, his message of love, without saying any word. Because sometimes love is perceived like that. That's all...

25 years ago... I will never forget you.

Beloved don Albino: I want to tell you I love you also today, like yesterday, like tomorrow, like 25 years ago, and always...!

Gloria C. Molinari

At 08.15 am, the prayer in chapel. After breakfast, going to Caviola, a few kilometers from Canale d'Agordo, where we'd have the meeting with Edoardo and Pia Luciani. Before arriving there, we have made a stop at Agordo to visit the church where don Albino has been chaplain.

At Caviola, two "Amici" were waiting for us to join the group. Besides, it was don Ettore, too, and Patrizia Luciani, author of a thesis on the Bellunese years of don Albino ("A mountain Priest "). The "Amici" have been greeted by Edoardo. They were very moved by looking at their faces! Right, Edoardo, our beloved Pope's brother, the living history... "Too much clamour ", he told us. He meant the "clamour" that newspapers were making in the last days to remember his brother's figure, especially regarding the beatification. Edoardo... he also made us get fun with "a non edifying story", as he said, when Albino was a... very astute boy! A game where they both have taken part and another two children. A kind of lottery (n.f.a: in Italian "pesca di beneficenza", usual way to gather money in Italian parishes by fishing some objects and winning prizes) with an only beneficiary: Albino!

Pia has told the story of her relationship with her uncle since when she was a girl and he accompanied her for the first time to school in Fano and have gone by train. Pia wept and her uncle had told her to write a letter to him. And with the mail exchange this relationship of confidence has started. "He was an exceptional person", Pia said. Speaking about her father Edoardo's story, she said about her uncle: "He was vivacious, not bad. And this is important to be said. He has built his personality". Sure, little sacrifices will have cost to him to construct a personality like we all have been able to appreciate by seeing him as Pontiff.

After lunch at Canale, we went to attend Mass that would be concelebrated at 4.00 pm by the Patriarch of Venice, Msgr. Angelo Scola, the Bishop of Belluno-Feltre, Msgr. Vincenzo Savio, by the emeritus Bishop of the same Diocese, Msgr. Maffeo Ducoli, and by the Bishop of Vittorio Veneto, Msgr. Alfredo Magarotto, together with Priests from the Bellunese and Venice and others, among them: the parish Priest of Canale-Vallada, don Sirio Da Corte, Msgr. Giorgio Lise, don Ettore Fornezza from Venice, don Licio Boldrin, from the Diocese of Rovigo; our chaplain, don Angelo, the General Vicar of Venice, Msgr. Beniamino Pizziol.

It was 2.00 pm and there were no more places to seat in church. At 4.00 pm the procession. Applauses have welcomed the Bishops.

HOLY MASS AND HOMILY BY THE PATRIARCH OF VENICE DURING THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION IN OCCASION OF THE 25° ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF CARD. ALBINO LUCIANI AS POPE JOHN PAUL I (Only in Italian and Spanish)

Seated, behind the altar, almost hidden, it was Edoardo Luciani, who, at the end of the Mass, has been greeted by the Patriarch and then by people who made a row.

Then, the group of "Amici" has greeted outside at the square the Patriarch Scola, Msgr. Ducoli, who asked how was the meeting going on, and Msgr. Savio, who has kindly signed a book on Pope Luciani to Carla, one of the members of our Club, and the beautiful poster-memory of the celebrations for Pope Luciani to me. Then, he has also agreed to be pictured with the "Amici" group.

A beautiful surprise at the square, as a good end for a wonderful day, an extra testimony for "Amici": don Licio Boldrin, Card. Luciani's great friend, has told some memories to us.

Newspapers have dedicated numerous articles in memory of the XXV Anniversary of John Paul I's election:

Besides, the Holy Father, John Paul II, has remembered his immediate predecessor with a homily during the general audience on August 27^th, 2003:

GENERAL AUDIENCE OF JOHN PAUL II

Castelgandolfo
Wednesday, 27 August 2003

1. In the late afternoon of Saturday, 26 August 1978, my Venerable Predecessor John Paul I was elected Pope. Yesterday marked 25 years since that event.

I evoke those moments today, which I had the joy of experiencing with deep emotion. I recall how deeply his words touched the hearts of all who filled St Peter's Square. From the moment of his first appearance in the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, he established with those present a current of spontaneous sympathy; his smiling face, his trusting and open gaze conquered the hearts of Romans and faithful throughout the world.

He came from the illustrious ecclesial community of Venice, which had already given the Church two great Pontiffs in the 20th century: St Pius X, the centenary of whose election as Pope we commemorated precisely this year, and Blessed John XXIII, the 40th anniversary of whose death we observed in June.

2. "We open ourselves with great trust to the asssistance of the Lord", the new Pope said in his first radiomessage. He was above all a master of clear faith, without giving in to passing and worldly fads. He strove to adapt his teachings to the sensibility of the people, but was careful always to keep the doctrine clear and consistent in its application to life.

But, what was the secret of his charm if not an uninterrupted contact with the Lord? "You know, I try to maintain a continual conversation with You", he noted in one of his writings in the form of a letter to Jesus. "What is important is that Christ be imitated and loved": here is the truth that, translated into lived experience, makes it possible for "Christianity and joy to go together".

3. The day after his election, in the Angelus of Sunday, 27 August, after having called to mind his Predecessors, the new Pope said: "I have neither the sapientia cordis [wisdom of the heart] of Pope John, nor the preparation and culture of Pope Paul, but I am in their place. I must seek to serve the Church".

He was very attached to the two Popes who had preceeded him. He made himself small before them, manifesting that humility which was always the first rule of life for him. Humility and optimism were the characteristics of his existence. Thanks precisely to these gifts, in his fleeting passage among us, he left a message of hope that found welcome in many hearts. "To be optimistic in spite of everything", he loved to repeat, "trust in God must be the pivot of our thoughts and actions". And he observed with a realism based on faith: "The principal persons in our life are two: God and each one of us".

4. His word and person entered into the heart of all, and for this reason the news of his unexpected death, which occurred on the night of 28 September 1978, was particularly overwhelming. The smile of a Pastor, close to the people, who knew how to dialogue with the culture and the world with serenity and balance, had vanished.

The few talks and writings he has left us as Pope enrich the considerable collection of his texts which, 25 years after his death, retain suprising actuality. On one occasion he said: "Progress with men who love one another, considering themselves brothers and sons of the one Father, God, can be a marvellous thing. Progress with men who do not recognize in God the only Father, becomes a constant danger". How much truth there is in these words, also useful for the men and women of our time!

5. May humanity come to accept such a wise lesson and extinguish the numerous hotbeds of hatred and violence present in many parts of the earth, to build up... in solidarity a more just and humane world!

Through the intercession of Mary, of whom John Paul I always professed himself a tender and devoted son, we pray to the Lord that he may welcome his faithful servant into his Kingdom of peace and joy. We also pray that his teaching, which touches the reality of daily events, be light for believers and for every person of good will.