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The Church in Shock
John Paul 1 1912-1978
October 9, 1978

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Cover Story Excerpt:
"How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable his judgments, how unsearchable his ways!" St. Paul's words rang out across St. Peter's Square in the genial, high-pitched voice of John Paul I on that happy day last month, Sept. 3, when he was installed as Pope and "Supreme Pastor" for the world's 700 million Roman Catholics. The new Pope was invoking Scripture as a commentary on the conclave that had unexpectedly elected him — and in a swift, single day at that. Last week the text he had chosen took on a different meaning as John Paul died of a massive stroke, just 33 days after he had been chosen as St. Peter's 263rd successor...Read the full story