1978 cardinal karol wojtya is elected to the papacy as pope john 10 16
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1978 48 years ago Historical Events October 16 2 sources

Cardinal Karol Wojtyła is elected to the papacy as Pope John Paul II, he becomes the first non-Italian pontiff since 1523.

On October 16, in the year 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła is elected to the papacy as Pope John Paul II, he becomes the first non-Italian pontiff since 1523. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of October 16, a notable event in this corner of history.

A conclave was held from 14 to 16 October 1978 to elect a new pope to succeed John Paul I, who had died on 28 September 1978, just 33 days after his election. All 111 eligible cardinal electors attended. On the eighth ballot, the conclave elected Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, the archbishop of Kraków. After accepting his election, he took the name John Paul II. The second conclave in the year, this was the latest conclave to include all eligible cardinal electors.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on October 16, 1978 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 19 August 2026.

On This Date in History

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Notable Deaths 2015 Oct 16 Richard J. Cardamone, American lawyer and judge (born 1925)
Notable Deaths 2015 Oct 16 James W. Fowler, American psychologist and academic (born 1940)
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This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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