How many Popes in 1979?greenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread |
I would like to know how many popes can serve at the same time and also
-- Angel Diaz (aediaz@mailer.scu.edu), June 05, 1999
One valid pope at a time. John Paul II was the pope in 1979.
-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), June 06, 1999.
Only one pope can serve at any given time. John Paul II was the only pope in 1979, but 1978 is often referred to as the Year of Three Popes. 1978 began during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI, however he died on August 6 of that year. A few weeks later on August 26, Pope John Paul I was elected to the papacy. On September 28, just 33 days after he became the Pope, John Paul I died in his sleep of a heart attack. Pope John Paul II was elected a few weeks later on October 16.
-- Julia (julia@mail.net), December 12, 2002.