Pope John Paul I Elected: A Brief Papacy Begins
Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel elected Albino Luciani as Pope John Paul I, ending a three-day deadlock with a compromise candidate who promised humility and reform. His sudden death just 33 days later shattered Vatican expectations and forced a second conclave that ultimately selected Karol Wojtyła, redefining the Church's global stance for decades.
August 26, 1978
48 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on August 26
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The Rajput fortress of Chittorgarh fell to Alauddin Khalji's Delhi Sultanate army in 1303 after an eight-month siege, leading to one of the first recorded insta…
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