On this day 47 years ago, on August 6, 1978 (July 3, 1978 lunar calendar), Pope Paul VI passed away, and his successor reigned only 33 days. Pope Paul VI presided over a memorial Mass for the slain former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro On August 6, 1978, Pope Paul VI died of a heart attack at the age of 80. During his 25-year reign, he played a unique role by actively participating in international affairs. Representatives of more than 100 countries attended his funeral. On August 26, the Conclave of Cardinals elected Archbishop Albino Luciani of Venice as the 263rd Pope, naming John Paul I. John Paul I was the second-shortest pope to reign, reigning only 33 days. On September 29, he was found dead in bed, apparently of a heart attack. The shortest-serving pope was Stephen II, who died after only two days in office in 752 AD. So a second vote was held in the Sistine Chapel on October 16 of the same year, this time Cardinal Carol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, was elected heir to the throne of St. Peter. The 58-year-old cardinal, named John Paul II, was the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years and the first Polish to become pope. The outdoor mass celebrating the new pope's enthronement was attended by many important figures, including Dr. Donald Cogan, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to attend the papal conferral ceremony since Britain severed ties with the Roman Church in the 16th century. Albino Luciani, the remains of Pope Paul VI, was elected as the 263rd pope, John Paul I John Paul I ruled in the Vatican John Paul II