Paul VI died on 6 August 1978 in Castel Gandolfo, aged 80. The pope of the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978, Paul VI was born Giovanni Battista Montini in northern Italy, and spent years in the Vatican diplomatic service before becoming archbishop of Milan. Elected after the death of John XXIII, he reconvened the Second Vatican Council and brought it to a conclusion in 1965, overseeing reforms such as the use of local languages in the liturgy. He was the first pope in modern times to travel widely, visiting the Holy Land, the United Nations and several continents. His 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which reaffirmed the Church's rejection of artificial contraception, provoked much dissent. He was canonized in 2018.
Before and after
- 20 June 1978Birth of Frank Lampard
- 22 June 1978Discovery of Charon
- 25 July 1978The first IVF baby is born
- 1 August 1978Establishment of Berchtesgaden National Park
- 6 August 1978Death of Paul VI
- 23 August 1978Birth of Kobe Bryant
- September 1978Human insulin is made in bacteria
- 17 September 1978Camp David Accords
- 28 September 1978Death of John Paul I
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The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.