Venice is the next stop on the list of trips for Pope Francis. He will visit the Vatican's pavillion at the city's Art Biennial exhibition.
But he's not the first pope to enjoy the city built on water. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI also spent time in Venice, even taking a ride on one of the famous gondolas.
While the Patriarchate of Venice was established in 1451, the relationship between the Vatican and this city of canals seemed to intensify in the last 100 years. From 1903 to the present day, three Patriarchs of Venice have been elected to the papacy.
After six previously unsuccessful votes, Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto was elected Pope in August 1903. He took the name Pius X. Cardinal Sarto had been serving in Venice for 10 years.
55 years later, the Church welcomed a pope with the name John XXIII. At the time he was elected in 1958, Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli had only been the Patriarch of Venice for four years.
Two decades later, the tradition continued and the man who would become known as the smiling pope was elected.
Yesterday morning, I went to the Sistine Chapel to vote peacefully. I could have never imagined what was about to happen.
Cardinal Albino Luciani served as the Patriarch of Venice for 9 years—longer than his 33 days as pope.
KG
