Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, was pope for only 33 days in 1978 before he died suddenly on September 28 of that year. The official cause of his death is believed to be a heart attack. He was found dead in his bed with a reading lamp still lit, likely having suffered the heart attack the night before
. His unexpected death sparked much controversy and numerous conspiracy theories, fueled by discrepancies in Vatican accounts about who found his body, what he was reading, and the circumstances around the lack of an autopsy. Some theories suggest involvement in Vatican financial scandals, but these remain unproven and are described by Vatican officials as speculative and based on opinion rather than fact
. Despite the controversies, recent research and witness testimonies, including those from the nuns who found him, support the conclusion that John Paul I died of natural causes, specifically a heart attack. No autopsy was performed, in line with Vatican protocol, so the exact medical cause cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty
. John Paul I was beatified in 2022 by Pope Francis, a step towards sainthood, recognizing his short but impactful papacy and his reputation as the "Smiling Pope"
