May 23, 2012 9:35pm

May 24, 1976: A Postcard Signed by Albino Luciani, the future John Paul I, to his niece, Pia Luciani

In October, we will be celebrating the 100th birthday of John Paul I, a favorite pope of the Papal Artifact's Expert. Pia Luciani, the Pope's niece, was gracious to share artifacts belonging to her uncle with Father Kunst. They appear, along with additional items, beginning on page 3 of the Papal Artifacts pages. The following story details some of the correspondence Father Kunst has had with Pia in the past several years.

Pia Luciani will also be attending a gathering in New York in October honoring John Paul I. Papal Artifacts honors his memory and will be featuring him as well this year.

In 2001 Father Kunst and his father went to northern Italy, to an area called Belluno, where Pope John Paul I lived. They visited his family, in particular his niece, Pia Luciani, and his brother Eduardo, and his sister-in-law. They spent the day with them visiting the home where the Pope was born. They were very hospitable and generous people who were happy to show Father Kunst the areas of Pope John Paul’s childhood.

Father Kunst formed a great bond with them but then lost contact. Very recently, in 2010, he reconnected with Pia Luciani. She fondly remembered their visit.

She gave him three postcards, all signed A. Luciani. The Merry Christmas greeting is from 1972. The 1959 greeting was written while he was a bishop in Vittorio Veneto. (Pope John XXIII himself consecrated him.)

The one featured here is from 1976 and is a blessing. Pope Paul VI had made him cardinal in 1973.

These are extremely rare items because John Paul I was not considered to be a strong papal candidate and was only pope for thirty-three days. People did not save items belonging to him. So finding things of his is actually quite rare making these items very special.

Artifacts connected to or belonging to John Paul I begin on page 3 of Papal Artifacts. His biography appears on page 1 of the Papal History pages.

Albino Luciani, the Future John Paul I: Three Postcards, All Signed, Dated 1959-1976 1978

In 2001 Father Kunst and his father went to northern Italy, to an area called Belluno, where Pope John Paul I lived. They visited his family, in particular his niece, Pia Luciani, and his brother Eduardo, and his sister-in-la... read more »