, then papal master of ceremonies The conclave was held for two days, from 25 August to 26 August 1978, at the
Sistine Chapel in the
Vatican. Cardinal
John Wright, an official of the
Roman Curia, was in the U.S. for medical treatments and thus unable to attend. Proceedings on 25 August 1978 began with a
Mass celebrated at
St. Peter's Basilica by the cardinal electors for divine guidance in their task to elect Pope Paul VI's successor. The cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel six hours later, while the chapel choir sang the hymn
Veni Creator Spiritus. Monsignor
Virgilio Noè, the
papal master of ceremonies, gave the traditional command of ("Everybody out!"), the doors were locked, and then the actual conclave began, with Cardinal Villot presiding (as would happen again in October) due to being the senior cardinal bishop in attendance. The chapel windows remained closed, some sealed, and the summer heat was oppressive. Belgian Cardinal
Leo Suenens later wrote: "My room was an oven. My cell was a kind of like a sauna." The traditional canopied thrones were replaced with twelve long tables to accommodate the electors. Cardinals
Karol Wojtyła,
Aloísio Lorscheider, and
Bernardin Gantin reportedly served as
scrutineers during the balloting. Luciani had told his secretary that he would decline the papacy if elected. During the third ballot,
Johannes Willebrands and
António Ribeiro, who sat on either side of Luciani, whispered words of encouragement to him as he continued to receive more votes.
Jaime Sin told Luciani, "You will be the new pope." Luciani was elected on the fourth ballot, and when Cardinal
Jean-Marie Villot asked Luciani whether he accepted his election, he replied: "May God forgive you for what you have done," and accepted his election. In honor of his two immediate predecessors, he took
John Paul I as his
papal name. After the election, when Cardinal Sin paid him homage, the new pope noted: "You were a prophet, but my reign will be a short one." At 19:31 CEST, John Paul I appeared on the balcony and gave his
Urbi et Orbi blessing. When he appeared about to address the crowd, he was reminded that was not traditional and withdrew without speaking further. He invited the cardinal electors to remain in conclave for another night and dined with them, occupying the same chair as he had at their earlier group dinners. ==Voting tallies==