SW News: Pope John Paul I, who served as the 263rd head of the Catholic Church for 33 days, will be beatified on Sunday, September 4. The beatification ceremony which will take place at the Vatican will be presided over by Pope Francis.

According to Vatican News, Bishop Renato Marangoni, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, postulator for the Cause of Canonization, and Dr. Stefania Falasca, the Deputy Postulator will read the Rite of Beatification during the Holy Mass.

“During the beatification, the team of postulators will gift the Holy Father with a reliquary containing the relics of the new Blessed,” a statement from the Holy See stated.

Just before the day of the beatification, on September 3 in the evening, a prayer vigil presided over by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the Pope’s Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome will be held in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Vatican News reported.

Born in Forno di Canale, Belluno in Italy on 17th October 1912, Albino Luciani was ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Belluno-Feltre in 1935.

Pope John Paul I became the head of the Catholic Church on August 26, 1978, at the age of 65. The Pope’s simplicity and his welcoming nature, won him the title, the “smiling Pope”. He died of a heart attack on September 28, 1978.

Pope John Paul II declared him “servant of God,” in November 2003. Later, on November 8, 2017, Pope Francis declared the Pontiff “venerable”, a second step towards canonization.