Pope John XXIII

For the 15th-century Pisan antipope, seeAntipope John XXIII.

PopeSaint John XXIII
Bishop of Rome
Official photograph, 1958–1963
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	28 October 1958
Papacy ended	3 June 1963
Predecessor	Pius XII
Successor	Paul VI
Orders
Ordination	10 August 1904 byGiuseppe Ceppetelli
Consecration	19 March 1925 byGiovanni Tacci Porcelli
Created cardinal	12 January 1953 byPius XII
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born	Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (1881-11-25)25 November 1881 Sotto il Monte,Bergamo,Kingdom of Italy
Died	3 June 1963(1963-06-03)(aged 81) Apostolic Palace,Vatican City
Previous post(s)	Titular Archbishop ofAreopolis(1925‍–‍1934) Official toBulgaria(1925‍–‍1931) Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria (1931‍–‍1934) Titular Archbishop ofMesembria(1934‍–‍1953) Apostolic Delegate toTurkey(1934‍–‍1944) Apostolic Delegate toGreece(1934‍–‍1944) Apostolic Nuncio to France(1944‍–‍1953) Cardinal-Priest ofSanta Prisca(1953‍–‍1958) Patriarch of Venice(1953‍–‍1958)
Education	Pontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare(ThD) Pontifical Roman Major Seminary(JCD)
Motto	Oboedientia et Pax (Latinfor 'Obedience and Peace')
Signature
Coat of arms
Sainthood
Feast day	11 October (Catholic Church) 3 June (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,Anglican Church of Australia) 4 June (Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil,Anglican Church of Canada,Scottish Episcopal ChurchandEpiscopal Church [USA])
Venerated in	Catholic Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Anglicanism Palmarian Church
Beatified	3 September 2000 Saint Peter's Square,Vatican City byPope John Paul II
Canonized	27 April 2014 Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City byPope Francis
Attributes	Papal vestments Papal tiara Camauro
Patronage	Papal delegates Patriarchy of Venice Second Vatican Council Christian unity Diocese of Bergamo Sotto il Monte Valsamoggia Italian Army
Other popes named John

Pope John XXIII(Latin:Ioannes XXIII;Italian:Giovanni XXIII;bornAngelo Giuseppe Roncalli,Italian:[ˈandʒelodʒuˈzɛpperoŋˈkalli];25 November 1881 – 3 June 1963) was head of theCatholic Churchand sovereign of theVatican CityState from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 1963.

Roncalli was among 13 children born to Marianna Mazzola and Giovanni Battista Roncalli in a family ofsharecropperswho lived inSotto il Monte,a village in theprovince of Bergamo,Lombardy.He was ordained to thepriesthoodon 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts, asnuncioinFranceand a delegate toBulgaria,GreeceandTurkey.In aconsistoryon 12 January 1953Pope Pius XIImade Roncalli a cardinal as the Cardinal-priest ofSanta Priscain addition to naming him as thePatriarch of Venice.Roncalli was unexpectedly electedpopeon 28 October 1958 at age 76 after eleven ballots. Pope John XXIII surprised those who expected him to be a caretaker pope by calling the historicSecond Vatican Council(1962–1965), the first session opening on 11 October 1962, which is now hisfeast.

John XXIII made many passionate speeches during his pontificate. His views on equality were summed up in his statement, "We were all made in God's image, and thus, we are all Godly alike."He made a major impact on the Catholic Church, opening it up to dramatic unexpected changes promulgated at the Vatican Council and by his own dealings with other churches and nations. In Italian politics, he prohibited bishops from interfering with local elections, and he helped theChristian Democracyparty to cooperate with theItalian Socialist Party.In international affairs, hisOstpolitikengaged in dialogue with the communist countries of Eastern Europe. He especially reached out to theEastern Orthodox churches.His overall goal was to modernize the Church by emphasizing itspastoral role,and its necessary involvement with affairs of state. He dropped the traditional rule of 70 cardinals, increasing the size to 85. He used the opportunity to name the first cardinals from Africa, Japan, and the Philippines. He promoted ecumenical movements in cooperation with other Christian faiths. In doctrinal matters, he was a traditionalist, but he ended the practice of automatically formulating social and political policies on the basis of old theological propositions.

He did not live to see the Vatican Council to completion. In September 1962, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died eight months later on June 3, 1963. His cause forcanonizationwas opened on 18 November 1965 by his successor,Pope Paul VI,who declared him aServant of God.On 5 July 2013,Pope Francis– bypassing the traditionally required second miracle – declared John XXIII a saint, based on his virtuous, model lifestyle, and because of the good which had come from his opening of the Second Vatican Council. He was canonized alongsidePope John Paul IIon 27 April 2014.John XXIII today is affectionately known as "the Good Pope"(Italian:il papa buono).

Early life

The young Roncalli

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born on 25 November 1881 inSotto il Monte,a small country village in theBergamoprovince of theLombardyregion ofItaly.He was the eldest son of Giovanni Battista Roncalli (1854–1935) and his wife Marianna Giulia Mazzola (1855–1939), and fourth in a family of thirteen. His siblings were:

• Maria Caterina (1877–1883)
• Teresa (1879–1954), who married Michele Ghisleni in 1899
• Ancilla (1880–1953)
• Francesco Saverio (1883–1976), who married Maria Carrara in 1907
• Maria Elisa (1884–1955)
• Assunta Casilda (1886–1980),who married Giovanni Battista Marchesi in 1907
• Domenico Giuseppe (1888–1888)
• Alfredo (1889–1972)
• Giovanni Francesco (1891–1956), who married Caterina Formenti in 1919
• Enrica (1893–1918)
• Giuseppe Luigi (1894–1981),who married Ida Biffi in 1922
• Luigi (1896–1898)

His family worked assharecroppers,as did most of the people of Sotto il Monte – a striking contrast to that of his predecessor, Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII), who came from a family established in senior roles in the Papal administration. Roncalli was nonetheless a descendant of an Italian noble family, albeit from a secondary and impoverished branch;"(he) derived from no mean origins but from worthy and respected folk who can be traced right back to the beginning of the fifteenth century". The Roncallis maintained a vineyard and cornfields, and kept cattle.

In 1889, Roncalli received both hisFirst CommunionandConfirmationat the age of 8.

On 1 March 1896, Luigi Isacchi, the spiritual director of his seminary, enrolled him into theSecular Franciscan Order.He professed his vows as a member of that order on 23 May 1897.

In 1904, Roncalli completed hisdoctorate in canon lawand wasordainedapriestin theChurch of Santa Maria in MontesantoinPiazza del Popoloin Rome on 10 August. Shortly after that, while still in Rome, Roncalli was taken toSaint Peter's Basilicato meetPope Pius X.After this, he would return to his town to celebrate Mass for the Assumption.

Priesthood

In 1905,Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi,the newBishop of Bergamo,appointed Roncalli as his secretary. Roncalli worked for Radini-Tedeschi until the bishop's death on 22 August 1914, two days after the death of Pius X. Radini-Tedeschi's last words to Roncalli were "Angelo, pray for peace". The death of Radini-Tedeschi had a deep effect on Roncalli.During this period Roncalli was also a lecturer in the diocesanseminaryinBergamo.

DuringWorld War I,Roncalli was drafted into theRoyal Italian Armyas asergeant,serving in the medical corps as a stretcher-bearer and as achaplain.After being honorably discharged from the army in early 1919, he was namedspiritual directorof the seminary.On 7 May 1921, Roncalli was appointed aDomestic Prelate of His Holiness,which gave him the title ofMonsignor.On 6 November, he travelled to Rome where he was scheduled to meet the Pope. After their meeting,Pope Benedict XVappointed him as the Italian president of theSociety for the Propagation of the Faith.Roncalli would recall Benedict XV as being the most sympathetic of the popes he had met.

Episcopate

In February 1925, the Cardinal Secretary of StatePietro Gasparrisummoned him to the Vatican and informed him ofPope Pius XI's decision to appoint him theApostolic VisitortoBulgaria(1925–1935). On 3 March, Pius XI also appointed himtitular archbishopofAreopolis,Jordan.Roncalli was initially reluctant about a mission to Bulgaria, but he soon relented. His nomination as apostolic visitor was made official on 19 March.Roncalli was consecrated a bishop byGiovanni Tacci Porcelliin the church ofSan Carlo al Corsoin Rome.,on 25 March 1925.

On 30 November 1934, he was appointedApostolic Delegate to TurkeyandGreeceand titular archbishop ofMesembria,Bulgaria.He became known in Turkey's predominantly Muslim society as "theTurcophilePope ".Roncalli took up this post in 1935 and used his office to help the Jewish underground in saving thousands of refugees in Europe, leading some to consider him to be aRighteous Gentile(seePope John XXIII and Judaism). In October 1935, he led Bulgarian pilgrims to Rome and introduced them toPope Pius XIon 14 October.

In February 1939, he received news from his sisters that his mother was dying. On 10 February 1939, Pope Pius XI died. Roncalli was unable to see his mother for the end as the death of a pontiff meant that he would have to stay at his post until the election of a new pontiff: she died on 20 February 1939, during the nine days of mourning for the late Pius XI. He was sent a letter by Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, and Roncalli later recalled that it was probably the last letter Pacelli sent until his election asPope Pius XIIon 2 March 1939. Roncalli expressed happiness that Pacelli was elected, and, on radio, listened to thecoronationof the new pontiff.

Roncalli remained in Bulgaria at the time that World War II commenced, optimistically writing in his journal in April 1939, "I don't believe we will have a war". When the war began, he was in Rome, meeting with Pope Pius XII on 5 September 1939. In 1940, Roncalli was asked by the Vatican to devote more of his time to Greece; therefore, he made several visits in January and May of that year.He maintained close relations with the Jews and also intervened to convince Bulgaria's KingBoris IIIto cancel deportations of Greek Jews during theNazi occupation of Greece.

Efforts during the Holocaust

As nuncio, Roncalli made various efforts duringthe HolocaustinWorld War IIto save refugees, mostly Jewish people, from theNazis.Among his efforts were:

• Delivery of "immigration certificates" toPalestinethrough theNunciaturediplomatic courier.
• Rescue of Jews by means of certificates of "baptism of convenience" sent by Monsignor Roncalli to priests in Europe.
• Children managed to leaveSlovakiadue to his interventions.
• Jewish refugees whose names were included on a list submitted by Rabbi Markus of Istanbul to Nuncio Roncalli.
• Jews held atJasenovac concentration camp,nearStara Gradiška,were liberated as a result of his intervention.
• Bulgarian Jews who leftBulgaria,a result of his request to KingBoris III of Bulgaria.
• RomanianJews fromTransnistrialeft Romania as a result of his intervention.
• Italian Jews helped by the Vatican as a result of his interventions.
• Orphaned children of Transnistria on board a refugee ship that weighed anchor fromConstanțato Istanbul, and later arriving in Palestine as a result of his interventions.
• Jews held at theSereď concentration campwho were spared from being deported to German death camps as a result of his intervention.
• HungarianJews who saved themselves through their conversions to Christianity through the baptismal certificates sent by Nuncio Roncalli to the Hungarian Nuncio, MonsignorAngelo Rota.

In 1965, theCatholic Heraldnewspaper quoted Pope John XXIII as saying:

We are conscious today that many, many centuries of blindness have cloaked our eyes so that we can no longer see the beauty of Thy chosen people nor recognise in their faces the features of our privileged brethren. We realize that the mark of Cain stands upon our foreheads. Across the centuries our brother Abel has lain in blood which we drew, or shed tears we caused by forgetting Thy love. Forgive us for the curse we falsely attached to their name as Jews. Forgive us for crucifying Thee a second time in their flesh. For we know not what we did.

On 7 September 2000, theInternational Raoul Wallenberg Foundationlaunched the International Campaign for the Acknowledgement of the humanitarian actions undertaken by Vatican Nuncio Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli for people, most of whom were Jewish, persecuted by the Nazi regime. The launching took place at the Permanent Observation Mission of theVatican to the United Nations,in the presence ofVatican State SecretaryCardinalAngelo Sodano.

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has carried out exhaustive historical research related to different events connected with interventions of Nuncio Roncalli in favour of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. As of September 2000 three reports have been published compiling different studies and materials of historical research about the humanitarian actions carried out by Roncalli when he was nuncio.

In 2011, the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation submitted a massive file (the Roncalli Dossier) toYad Vashem,with a strong petition and recommendation to bestow upon him the title ofRighteous among the Nations.

Relations with Israel

After 1944, he played an active role in gaining Catholic Church support for the establishment of theState of Israel.His support forZionism,and the establishment of Israel was the result of his cultural and religious openness toward other faiths and cultures, and especially concern with the fate of Jews after the war. He was one of the Vatican's most sympathetic diplomats toward Jewish immigration to Palestine, which he saw as a humanitarian issue, and not a matter of biblical theology.

Nuncio

On 22 December 1944, duringWorld War II,Pope Pius XIInamed him to be the newApostolic Nuncio to recently liberated France.In this capacity he had to negotiate the retirement ofbishopswho had collaborated with theGerman occupying power.

Roncalli was chosen among several other candidates, one of whom was ArchbishopGiuseppe Fietta.Roncalli met withDomenico Tardinito discuss his new appointment, and their conversation suggested that Tardini did not approve of it. One curial prelate referred to Roncalli as an "old fogey" while speaking with a journalist.

Roncalli left Ankara on 27 December 1944 on a series of short-haul flights that took him to several places, such asBeirut,Cairoand Naples. He ventured to Rome on 28 December and met with both Tardini and his friendGiovanni Battista Montini.He left for France the next day to commence his newest role.In November 1948, he went for his yearly retreat to theEn-Calcat Abbeyin Southern France.

Cardinal

Commander of theLegion of Honourreceived in 1953

Roncalli received a message from Montini on 14 November 1952 asking him if he would want to become the newPatriarch of Venicein light of the nearing death ofCarlo Agostini.Furthermore, Montini said to him via letter on 29 November 1952 that Pius XII had decided to raise him to the cardinalate. Roncalli knew that he would be appointed to lead the patriarchy of Venice due to the death of Agostini, who was to have been raised to the rank of cardinal.

Roncalli asPatriarch of Venice

On 12 January 1953, he was appointed Patriarch of Venice and raised to the rank ofCardinal-PriestofSanta Priscaby Pope Pius XII. Before departing Paris he invited to dinner the eight men who had served asprime ministerduring Roncalli's term as nuncio.Roncalli left France for Venice on 23 February 1953 stopping briefly in Milan and then to Rome. On 15 March 1953, he took possession of his new diocese in Venice. As a sign of his esteem, thePresident of France,Vincent Auriol,claimed the ancient privilege possessed by French monarchs and bestowed the redbirettaon Roncalli at a ceremony in theÉlysée Palace.It was around this time that he, with the aid of MonsignorBruno Heim,formed his coat of arms with alion of Saint Markon a white ground. Auriol also awarded Roncalli three months later with the award of Commander of theLegion of Honour.

Roncalli decided to live on the second floor of the residence reserved for the patriarch, choosing not to live in the first floor room once resided in by Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, who later becamePope Pius X.On 29 May 1954, the late Pius X was canonized and Roncalli ensured that the late pontiff's patriarchal room was remodelled into a 1903 (the year of the new saint's papal election) look in his honor. With Pius X's few surviving relatives, Roncalli celebrated a Mass in his honor.

His sister Ancilla would soon be diagnosed with stomach cancer in the early 1950s. Roncalli's last letter to her was dated on 8 November 1953 where he promised to visit her within the next week. He could not keep that promise, as Ancilla died on 11 November 1953 at the time when he was consecrating a new church in Venice. He attended her funeral back in his hometown. In his will around this time, he mentioned that he wished to be buried in the crypt ofSt Mark's Basilicain Venice with some of his predecessors rather than with the family in Sotto il Monte.

In 1958, he held a diocesan synod.

Papacy

Papal styles of Pope John XXIII
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Religious style	Holy Father
Posthumous style	Saint

Ordination history of Pope John XXIII
History Priestly ordination Ordained by Giuseppe Ceppetelli Date 10 August 1904 Place Santa Maria in Monte Santo in Piazza del Popolo,Rome,Italy Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Giovanni Tacci Card. Porcelli Co-consecrators Giuseppe Palica Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani Date 19 March 1925 Place San Carlo alla Corso,Rome,Italy Cardinalate Elevated by Pope Pius XII Date 12 January 1953
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Pope John XXIII as principal consecrator Antonio Gregorio Vuccino 25 July 1937 Alfredo Pacini 11 June 1946 Giacomo Testa 26 August 1953 Silvio Angelo Pio Oddi 27 September 1953 Angelo Dell'Acqua 27 December 1958 Albino Luciani 27 December 1958 Domenico Tardini 27 December 1958 Charles Msakila 27 December 1958 James Hagan 8 May 1960 Pericle Felici 28 October 1960 Alfredo Ottaviani 19 April 1962 Alberto di Jorio 19 April 1962 Augustin Bea 19 April 1962 Enrico Dante 21 September 1962 Pietro Palazzini 21 September 1962 Paul-Pierre Philippe 21 September 1962

Papal election

Main article:1958 papal conclave

Following the death ofPope Pius XIIon 9 October 1958, Roncalli watched the live funeral on his last full day inVeniceon 11 October. His journal was specifically concerned with the funeral and the abused state of the late pontiff's corpse. Roncalli left Venice for the conclave in Rome well aware that he waspapabile,and after eleven ballots, was elected to succeed the late Pius XII, so it came as no surprise to him, though he had arrived at the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice.

Many had consideredGiovanni Battista Montini,theArchbishop of Milan,a possible candidate, but, although he was the archbishop of one of the most ancient and prominentseesin Italy, he had not yet been made a cardinal.Though his absence from the 1958 conclave did not make him ineligible – underCanon Lawany Catholic male who is capable of receiving priestly ordination and episcopal consecration may be elected – theCollege of Cardinalsusually chose the new pontiff from among the Cardinals who attend the papal conclave. At the time, as opposed to modern practice, the participating Cardinals did not have to be below age 80 to vote, there were few Eastern-rite Cardinals,and some Cardinals were just priests at the time of their elevation.

Roncalli was summoned to the final ballot of the conclave at 4:00 pm. He was elected pope at 4:30 pm with a total of 38 votes. After the long pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the cardinals chose a man who – it was presumed because of his advanced age – would be a short-term or "stop-gap" pope. They wished to choose a candidate who would do little during the new pontificate. Upon his election, CardinalEugène Tisserantasked him the ritual questions of whether he would accept and if so, what name he would take for himself. Roncalli gave the first of his many surprises when he chose "John" as hisregnal name.Roncalli's exact words were "I will be called John". This was the first time in over 500 years that this name had been chosen; previous popes had avoided its use since the time of theAntipope John XXIIIduring theWestern Schismseveral centuries before.

On the choice of his papal name, Pope John XXIII said to the cardinals:

I will be called John... a name sweet tousbecause it is the name of our father, dear to us because it is the name of the humble parish church where we were baptized, the solemn name of numberless cathedrals scattered throughout the world, including our own basilica [St. John Lateran].Twenty-two Johnsofindisputable legitimacyhave [been Pope], and almost all had a brief pontificate. We have preferred to hide the smallness of our name behind this magnificent succession of Roman Pontiffs.

Upon his choosing the name, there was some confusion as to whether he would be known as John XXIII or John XXIV; in response, he declared that he was John XXIII, thus affirming the antipapal status ofantipope John XXIII.

Before this antipope, the most recent popes called John wereJohn XXII(1316–1334) andJohn XXI(1276–1277). NoPope John XXexisted, owing to confusion caused by medieval historians misreading theLiber Pontificalisto refer to another Pope John betweenJohn XIVandJohn XV.

After his election, he confided in CardinalMaurice Feltinthat he had chosen the name "in memory of France and in the memory of John XXII who continued the history of the papacy in France".

After he answered the two ritual questions, the traditionalHabemus Papamannouncement was delivered by CardinalNicola Canalito the people at 6:08 pm, an exact hour after the white smoke appeared. A short while later, he appeared on the balcony and gave his firstUrbi et Orbiblessing to the crowds of the faithful below inSaint Peter's Square.That same night, he appointedDomenico Tardinias hisCardinal Secretary of State.Of the three cassocks prepared for whoever the new pope was, even the largest was not enough to fit his obese frame, which had to be let out in certain places and only to be held together with great effort by bobby pins. When he first saw himself in the mirror in his new vestments, he said with an apprising and critical look that "this man will be a disaster on television!", while later saying he felt his first appearance before the globe was as if he were a "newborn babe in swaddling clothes".

Hiscoronationtook place on 4 November 1958, on the feast of SaintCharles Borromeo,and it occurred on the central loggia of the Vatican. He was crowned with the 1877Palatine Tiara.His coronation ran for the traditional five hours.

In John XXIII's firstconsistoryon 15 December of that same year, Montini was created a cardinal and would become John XXIII's successor in 1963, taking the name ofPaul VI.That consistory was notable for being the first to expand the Sacred College membership beyond the then-traditional 70.

Pope John XXIII's coronation on 4 November 1958. He was crowned wearing the 1877Palatine Tiara.

Following his election the new pope told the tale of how in his first weeks he was walking when he heard a woman exclaim in a loud voice: "My God, he's so fat!" The new pope casually remarked: "Madame, the holy conclave isn't exactly a beauty contest!"

Visits around Rome

Monument to Pope John XXIII inPorto Viro(Rovigo)

On 25 December 1958, he became the first pope since 1870 to make pastoral visits in hisDiocese of Rome,when he visited children infected withpolioat theBambino Gesù Hospitaland then visitedSanto Spirito Hospital.The following day, he visited Rome'sRegina Coeli prison,where he told the inmates: "You could not come to me, so I came to you." These gestures created a sensation, and he wrote in his diary: "... great astonishment in the Roman, Italian and international press. I was hemmed in on all sides: authorities, photographers, prisoners, warders..."

During these visits, John XXIII put aside the normal papal use of theformal "we"when referring to himself, such as when he visited a reformatory school for juvenile delinquents in Rome telling them "I have wanted to come here for some time". The media noticed this and reported that "He talked to the youths in their own language".

"Ostpolitik" and Eastern Europe

In international affairs, his "Ostpolitik" [ "Eastern policy" ] engaged in dialogue with the Communist countries of Eastern Europe. He worked to reconcile the Vatican with theRussian Orthodox Churchto settle tensions between the local churches. The Second Vatican Council did not condemn Communism and did not even mention it, in what some have called a secret agreement between the Holy See and theSoviet Union.InPacem in terris,John XXIII also sought to prevent nuclear war and tried to improve relations between the Soviet Union and the United States. He began a policy of dialogue with Soviet leaders in order to seek conditions in which Eastern Catholics could find relief from persecution.

Relations with Jews

Main article:Pope John XXIII and Judaism

One of the first acts of Pope John XXIII, in 1960, was to eliminate the description of Jews asperfidius(Latin for "perfidious" or "faithless" ) in the prayer for theconversion of the Jewsin theGood Friday liturgy.He interrupted the first Good Friday liturgy in his pontificate to address this issue when he first heard a celebrant refer to the Jews with that word. He also made a confession for the Church forantisemitismthrough the centuries.

While Vatican II was being held, John XXIII tasked CardinalAugustin Beawith the creation of several important documents that pertained to reconciliation with Jewish people.

These words and actions endeared him to the Jewish people. TheChief Rabbi of Israel,Yitzhak Nissim,later mourned his death as "A loss that saddens all those who seek peace and human love".

Calling the Council

John XXIII with Prime Minister of LebanonSami as-Solhin 1959

Far from being a mere "stopgap" pope, to great excitement, John XXIII called for anecumenical councilfewer than ninety years after theFirst Vatican Council(Vatican I's predecessor, theCouncil of Trent,had been held in the 16th century). This decision was announced on 25 January 1959 at theBasilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, who later becamePope Paul VI,remarked toGiulio Bevilacquathat "this holy old boy doesn't realise what a hornet's nest he's stirring up".From theSecond Vatican Councilcame changes that reshaped the face of Catholicism: acomprehensively revised liturgy,a stronger emphasis onecumenism,and a new approach to the world.

Prior to the first session of the council, John XXIII visitedAssisiandLoretoon 4 October 1962 to pray for the new upcoming council as well as to mark the feast day of SaintFrancis of Assisi.He was the first pope to travel outside of Rome sincePope Pius IX.Along the way, there were several halts atOrte,Narni,Terni,Spoleto,Foligno,Fabriano,Iesi,Falconara MarittimaandAnconawhere the crowds greeted him.

Moral theology

Main article:Moral theology of John XXIII

Contraception

John XXIII greets sportsmen for the1960 Summer Olympicson 28 August 1960.

In 1963, John XXIII established acommissionof six non-theologians to investigate questions of birth control.

Human rights

John XXIII was an advocate for human rights which included the unborn and the elderly. He wrote about human rights in his encyclicalPacem in terris.He wrote, "Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill health; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age; enforced unemployment; or whenever through no fault of his own he is deprived of the means of livelihood."

Divorce

John XXIII said that human life is transmitted through the family which is founded on the sacrament of marriage and is both one and indissoluble as a union in God, therefore, it is against the teachings of the Church for a married couple todivorce.

Pope John XXIII and papal ceremonial

Main article:Ceremonial of John XXIII

Pope John XXIII was the last pope to usefull papal ceremony,some of which was abolished afterVatican II,while the rest fell into disuse. Hispapal coronationran for the traditional five hours (Pope Paul VI, by contrast, opted for a shorter ceremony, while later popes declined to be crowned). Pope John XXIII, like his predecessor Pius XII, chose to have the coronation itself take place on the balcony ofSt. Peter's Basilica,in view of the crowds assembled inSaint Peter's Squarebelow.

He wore a number of papal tiaras during his papacy. On the most formal of occasions would he don the 1877 Palatinetiarahe received at his coronation, but on other occasions, he used the 1922 tiara of Pope Pius XI, which was used so often that it was associated with him quite strongly. The people of Bergamo gave him an expensive silvertiara,but he requested that the number of jewels used be halved and that the money be given to the poor.

Liturgical reform

Maintaining continuity with his predecessors, John XXIII continued the gradual reform of the Roman liturgy, and published changes that resulted in the1962 Roman Missal,the last typical edition containing theTridentine Masscodified in 1570 byPope Pius Vafter theCouncil of Trent.It inserted into thecanon of the Massthe name ofSaint Joseph,the first change for centuries in the canon of the Mass.Manytraditionalist Catholics,today, continue to use the 1962 Roman Missal, to celebrate Mass.

Beatifications and canonization ceremonies

Main article:List of saints canonized by Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII onTimemagazine cover of 4 January 1963

John XXIIIbeatifiedfour individuals in his reign:Elena Guerra(26 April 1959),Innocenzo da Berzo(12 November 1961),Elizabeth Ann Seton(17 March 1963) andLuigi Maria Palazzolo(19 March 1963).

He alsocanonizeda small number of individuals: he canonizedCharles of SezzeandJoaquina Vedruna de Mason 12 April 1959,Gregorio Barbarigoon 26 May 1960,Juan de Riberaon 12 June 1960,Maria Bertilla Boscardinon 11 May 1961,Martin de Porreson 6 May 1962, andAntonio Maria Pucci,Francis Mary of CamporossoandPeter Julian Eymardon 9 December 1962. His final canonization was that ofVincent Pallottion 20 January 1963.

Doctor of the Church

John XXIII proclaimed SaintLawrence of Brindisias aDoctor of the Churchon 19 March 1959 and conferred upon him the title "Doctor apostolicus"(" Apostolic Doctor ").

Consistories

Main article:Cardinals created by John XXIII

The pope created 52 cardinals in five consistories, including his successor who would become Pope Paul VI. John XXIII decided to expand the size of the College of Cardinals beyond its limit of seventy thatPope Sixtus Vestablished in 1586.The pope also reserved three additional cardinals "in pectore"in 1960 which meant he secretly named cardinals without revealing their identities. The pope died before he could reveal these names, therefore meaning that these appointments were never legitimized. John XXIII also sought to further internationalize the College of Cardinals like Pius XII attempted, while also naming the first ever cardinals from countries such asJapan(Peter Doi) andTanzania(Laurean Rugambwa). Unlike his predecessor, John XXIII held frequent consistories in a marked departure from Pius XII, returning to the frequency seen in the earlier 20th century.

John XXIII also issued a rule in 1962 mandating that all cardinals should be bishops; he himself ordained as bishops the twelve non-bishop cardinals in April 1962.

According to a June 2007 interview,Loris Francesco Capovillarevealed thatFrancesco Lardonewas one of the cardinals that John XXIII had reservedin pectorein 1960. According to Capovilla, Lardone's precarious position inTurkeymeant that he would have to abandon his position if he were named to the cardinalate. Lardone was of the opinion that he could assist bishops in theIron Curtainfrom his posting which he would be unable to do if he was relocated to accept a position in Rome. In November 1960, in preparation for the next consistory, John XXIII offered the cardinalate to Diego Venini who declined the offer.

Vatican II: The first session

John XXIII presiding the opening Mass of the Second Vatican Council

On 11 October 1962, the first session of theSecond Vatican Councilwas held in the Vatican. He gave theGaudet Mater Ecclesiaspeech, which served as the opening address for the council. The day consisted of electing members for several council commissions that would work on the issues presented in the council.On the night following the conclusion of the first session, the people in Saint Peter's Square chanted and yelled with the objective of having John XXIII appear at the window to address them.

Pope John XXIII appeared at the window and delivered a speech to the people below, and told them to return home and hug their children, telling them that the hug came from the pope. This speech would later become known as the so-called 'Speech of the Moon'.

The first session ended in a solemn ceremony on 8 December 1962 with the next session scheduled to occur in 1963 from 12 May to 29 June – this was announced on 12 November 1962. John XXIII's closing speech made subtle references toPope Pius IX,and he had expressed the desire to see Pius IX beatified and eventually canonized. In his journal in 1959 during a spiritual retreat, John XXIII made this remark: "I always think of Pius IX of holy and glorious memory, and by imitating him in his sacrifices, I would like to be worthy to celebrate his canonization".

Final months and death

The original tomb of John XXIII (until 2000) in the Vatican necropolis.

On 23 September 1962, Pope John XXIII was diagnosed withstomach cancer.The diagnosis, which was kept from the public, followed nearly eight months of occasional stomach hemorrhages, and reduced the pontiff's appearances. Looking pale and drawn during these events, he gave a hint to his ultimate fate in April 1963, when he said to visitors, "That which happens to all men perhaps will happen soon to the Pope who speaks to you today."

Pope John XXIII offered to mediate between US PresidentJohn F. KennedyandNikita Khrushchevduring theCuban Missile Crisisin October 1962. Both men applauded the pope for his deep commitment to peace. Khrushchev would later send a message viaNorman Cousinsand the letter expressed his best wishes for the pontiff's ailing health. John XXIII personally typed and sent a message back to him, thanking him for his letter. Cousins, meanwhile, travelled toNew York Cityand ensured that John would becomeTimemagazine's'Man of the Year'. John XXIII became the first Pope to receive the title, followed byJohn Paul IIin 1994 andFrancisin 2013.

On 10 February 1963, John XXIII officially opened the process of beatification for the late CardinalAndrea Carlo Ferrari,Archbishop of Milanfrom 1894 to 1921. This conferred upon him the title ofServant of God.

On 7 March 1963, the feast of the university's patron SaintThomas Aquinas,Pope John XXIII visited thePontifical University of Saint Thomas AquinasAngelicumand with themotu proprioDominicanus Ordo,raised theAngelicumto the rank ofPontifical University.Thereafter it would be known as the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in the city.

On 10 May 1963, John XXIII received theBalzan Prizein private at the Vatican but deflected achievements of himself to the five popes of his lifetime,Pope Leo XIIIto Pius XII. On 11 May, the Italian PresidentAntonio Segniofficially awarded Pope John XXIII with the Balzan Prize for his engagement for peace. While in the car en route to the official ceremony, he suffered great stomach pains but insisted on meeting with Segni to receive the award in theQuirinal Palace,refusing to do so within the Vatican. He stated that it would have been an insult to honour a pontiff on the remains of the crucifiedSaint Peter.It was the pope's last public appearance.

On 25 May 1963, the pope suffered another haemorrhage and required several blood transfusions, but the cancer had perforated the stomach wall andperitonitissoon set in. The doctors conferred in a decision regarding this matter and John XXIII's aideLoris F. Capovillabroke the news to him saying that the cancer had done its work and nothing could be done for him. Around this time, his remaining siblings arrived to be with him. By 31 May, it had become clear that the cancer had overcome the resistance of John XXIII – it had left him confined to his bed.

At 11 amPetrus Canisius van Lierdeas Papal Sacristan was at the bedside of the dying pope, ready toanointhim. The pope began to speak for the last time: "I had the great grace to be born into a Christian family, modest and poor, but with the fear of the Lord. My time on Earth is drawing to a close. But Christ lives on and continues his work in the Church. Souls, souls,ut omnes unum sint."Van Lierde then anointed his eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet. Overcome by emotion, van Lierde forgot the right order of anointing. John XXIII gently helped him before bidding those present a last farewell.

— Peter Hebblethwaite,John XXIII, Pope of the Council(1994), page 502

John XXIII died of peritonitis caused by a perforated stomach at 19:49 local time on 3 June 1963 at the age of 81, ending a historic pontificate of four years and seven months. He died just as a Mass for him finished in Saint Peter's Square below, celebrated byLuigi Traglia.After he died, his brow was ritually tapped to see if he was dead, and those with him in the room said prayers. Then the room was illuminated, thus informing the people of what had happened. The Italian government announced three days of mourning with flags half-masted and the closure of offices and schools.Spainannounced ten days of mourning with flags half-masted;Philippinesannounced nine days of mourning with flags half-masted;ParaguayandGuatemalaannounced three days of mourning;theRepublic of the Congodeclared one day of mourning.He was buried on 6 June in theVatican Grottoes.Twowreaths,placed on the two sides of his tomb, were donated by the prisoners of the Regina Coeli prison and the Mantova jail in Verona. On 22 June 1963, one day after his friend and successorPope Paul VIwas elected, the latter prayed at his tomb. John XXIII's tomb is located near the tombs of bothPope Pius XandPope John Paul II.

On 3 December 1963, US PresidentLyndon B. Johnsonposthumously awarded him thePresidential Medal of Freedom,the United States' highest civilian award, in recognition of the good relationship between Pope John XXIII and the United States of America. The citation for the medal reads:

His Holiness Pope John XXIII, dedicated servant of God. He brought to all citizens of the planet a heightened sense of the dignity of the individual, of the brotherhood of man, and of the common duty to build an environment of peace for all human kind.

Beatification and canonization

PopeSaint John XXIII Bishop of Rome
PopeandConfessor
Born	25 November 1881 Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Kingdom of Italy
Died	3 June 1963 (aged 81) Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
Venerated in	Catholic Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Anglicanism
Beatified	3 September 2000,St. Peter's Square,Vatican CitybyPope John Paul II
Canonized	27 April 2014, St. Peter's Square, Vatican City byPope Francis
Feast	11 October
Attributes	Papal Vestments, Papal Tiara, Camauro
Patronage	Patriarchy of Venice, Papal Delegates, Second Vatican Council, Christian Unity, Diocese of Bergamo, Sotto il Monte, Valsamoggia, Italian Army

Main article:Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II

The body of John XXIII in the altar of Saint Jerome

The canonization ceremony of John XXIII and John Paul II

He was known affectionately as the "Good Pope".His cause for canonization was opened underPope Paul VIduring the final session of theSecond Vatican Councilon 18 November 1965,along with the cause ofPope Pius XII.On 3 September 2000, John XXIII was declared "Blessed" alongsidePope Pius IXbyPope John Paul II,the penultimate step on the road tosainthood,after a miracle of curing an ill woman was discovered. He was the first pope sincePope Pius Xto receive this honour. Following his beatification, his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below theVaticanto the altar ofSt. Jeromeand displayed for thevenerationof the faithful.

At the time, the body was observed to be extremely well preserved – a condition which the Church ascribes to embalmingand the lack of air flow in his sealed triple coffin rather than amiracle.When John XXIII's body was moved in 2001, it was once again treated to prevent deterioration.The original vault above the floor was removed and a new one built beneath the ground; it was here that the body of Pope John Paul II was entombed from 9 April 2005 to April 2011, before being moved for his beatification on 1 May 2011.

The 50th anniversary of his death was celebrated on 3 June 2013 byPope Francis,who visited his tomb and prayed there, then addressing the gathered crowd and spoke about the late pope. The people that gathered there at the tomb were from Bergamo, the province where the late pope came from. A month later, on 5 July 2013, Francis approved Pope John XXIII for canonization, along with Pope John Paul II without the traditional second miracle required. Instead, Francis based this decision on John XXIII's merits for the Second Vatican Council.On Sunday, 27 April 2014, John XXIII and Pope John Paul II were declared saints onDivine Mercy Sunday.

The date assigned for the liturgical celebration of John XXIII is not 3 June, the anniversary of his death as would be usual (due to the obligatory memorial of saintsCharles Lwangaand hiscompanion martyrs), but 11 October, the anniversary of his opening of the Second Vatican Council.He is also commemorated in theAnglican Church of Canada,theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America,and some other organizations with a feast day of 3 June or 4 June.

Legacy

Statue of John XXIII in Portugal

From his teens when he entered the seminary, he maintained a diary of spiritual reflections that was subsequently published as theJournal of a Soul.The collection of writings charts Roncalli's goals and his efforts as a young man to "grow in holiness" and continues after his election to the papacy; it remains widely read.

The opening titles ofPier Paolo Pasolini's filmThe Gospel According to St. Matthew(1964) dedicate the film to the memory of John XXIII.

Institutions named after John XXIII include:John XXIII College (Perth)inWestern Australia;Pope John Senior High School and Junior Seminary in Koforidua, Ghana; the Catholic Learning Community of John XXIII, a primary school inSydney;Roncalli College,located inTimaru,New Zealand; Roncalli High Schools inIndianapolis, Indiana,Aberdeen, South Dakota,Manitowoc, Wisconsin,Sparta, New JerseyandOmaha, Nebraska;John XXIII School inIndia;Jean-XXIII high school inMontréal, Québecand St. John XXIII College Seminary in Pal-ing,MalaybalayCity, Bukidnon in the Philippines.

Parishes named after John XXIII are located inEvanston, IL,Fort Collins, CO,Fort Myers, FL,andWinchester, OH.There is astatue of Pope John XXIIIin Istanbul, Turkey.

During an event held on 6 May 2019 in Bulgaria, Pope Francis invoked John XXIII's encyclicalPacem in terrisas a "code of conduct" for peace between Catholics and other religions.

See also

• Cardinals created by John XXIII
• Central Preparatory Commission
• Eastern Catholic Churches
• Eastern Orthodox Church
• List of Catholic saints
• List of encyclicals of Pope John XXIII
• List of meetings between the pope and the president of the United States
• List of popes
• List of Righteous Among the Nations by country
• Vatican City

Further reading

• Bonnot, Bernard R.Pope John XXIII. An Astute, Pastoral Leader(1980), 316pp.
• Cahill, Thomas.Pope John XXIII: A Penguin Life(2002), 241pp.
• Dunn, Dennis J. "The Vatican's Ostpolitik: Past and Present."Journal of International Affairs(1982) 36#2: 247–255.online
• Fairweather, E.R.(1963),""A Man Sent from God""(PDF),Canadian Journal of Theology,IX(3): 147–148
• Hebblethwaite, Peter.Pope John XXIII, Shepherd of the Modern World(1985). 550pp.
• Hebblethwaite, Peter&Hebblethwaite, Margaret(2000).John XXIII: Pope of the Council.Continuum International.ISBN978-0-8264-4995-5.
• Riebs, Gunnar (2011).John XXIII Simple and Humble A Blessed Man. Privileged testimonies.St Pauls.ISBN978-93-5015-077-1.
• Wilsford, David. ed.,Political Leaders of Contemporary Western Europe: A Biographical Dictionary(Greenwood, 1995) pp 203–207.
• Zizola, Giancarlo; Barolini, Helen.Utopia of Pope John XXIII(1979), 379pp.

Primary sources

• Coppa, Frank J. "The National Edition of the Diaries of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli/Pope John XXIII: A Bibliographical Essay."The Catholic Historical Review97#1 (2011), pp. 81–92online
• Roncalli, Angelo Giuseppe(1965),Giovanni XXIII Il Giornale dell' Anima[Journal of a Soul], White, Dorothy trans,Geoffrey Chapman,ISBN978-0-225-66895-7.excerpt;his spiritual diary.

External links

• Works by or about Pope John XXIIIatInternet Archive
• Roncalli, Angelo Giuseppe,Opera Omnia[Complete works] (in Latin),EU:Documenta catholica omnia.
• Rockwell, Lew,John XXIII was embalmed; Vatican denies he is subject of miracle of incorruptibility.
• Wojtyła, Karol Józef(3 September 2000),Beatification of Pius IX, John XXIII, Tommaso Reggio, William Chaminade and Columba Marmion: Homily of His Holiness John Paul II(homily), Rome, IT: Vatican, archived fromthe originalon 26 October 2006.
• "John XXIII",Pope John XXIII(biography),Rome,IT:Vatican.
• "John XXIII",Everything2.
• "Pope John XXIII",Atheism(biography), About, archived fromthe originalon 14 April 2014,retrieved28 October2011.
• "John XXIII (pope)",Britannica(encyclopedia) (online ed.).
• Advocating John XXIII as Righteous Among the Nations,Raoul Wallenberg.
• "John XXIII",Monuments,St Peter’s basilica.
• Pope John XXIII,Intra text:text with concordances and frequency list.
• "Saint of the Day",American Catholic,11 October 2016.
• Pope John XXIII(news archive), UK: Pathé.
• "Pope John XXIII",Time,4 January 1963, archived fromthe originalon 21 August 2006,retrieved2 May2010.
• Texts for the Liturgy of the Hours for the Optional Memorial of St. John XXIII(Latin – English tr. still not published)