The Papal conclave of August 1978, the first of the two conclaves held in the year 1978, was convoked after the death of Pope Paul VI on August 6 at Castel Gandolfo. After the cardinal electors assembled in Rome, the conclave to elect Paul's successor began on August 25 and ended the next day, on 26 August, after four ballots. The cardinals elected Albino Cardinal Luciani, then Patriarch of Venice, as the new pope. He accepted the election and took the pontifical name of John Paul I.