1978 WILL be remembered as the year of the three popes. Pope Paul VI died from a heart attack on August 6th at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandalfo.
Giovanni Battista Montini (80) had suffered from ill-health for some time.
He was replaced by Albino Cardinal Luciani, who chose the name John Paul I.
The Italian quickly became known as "the smiling pope" but his reign was short-lived and he was found dead in his bed just 33 days into his papacy.
The sudden death gave rise to a number of conspiracy theories, including one claiming that he was murdered because he had uncovered ties between the Vatican Bank and the Mafia.
Less than one month later, Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla became the first non-Italian to become pope in more than four centuries. At 58, he was also the youngest pope of the century.