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John XXIII - Bishop of Rome, Ecumenist, and Reformer

Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was the 261st pope of the Catholic Church, elected in 1958. Known as the 'Good Pope,' he convened the Second Vatican Council to renew the Church and wrote encyclicals for world peace, such as <em>Pacem in Terris</em>. Canonized in 2014, his brief pontificate marked Christian history through its openness to the modern world.

Life and Formation

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, a humble rural town in the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy, Italy. The son of farmers, Giovanni Battista Roncalli and Marianna Mazzola, he was the third of thirteen siblings in a deeply Catholic family. From a young age, he showed a religious vocation, entering the seminary of Bergamo, where he excelled in his studies and piety.

Ordained a priest in 1904, Roncalli served as secretary to the bishop of Bergamo, a seminary professor, and parish priest. During World War I, he worked as a military chaplain, caring for soldiers with exemplary dedication. His training included historical and theological studies, with emphasis on Saint Charles Borromeo, who would influence his future papal choice.

Diplomatic Career

In 1925, Pius XI consecrated him titular archbishop and sent him as apostolic visitor to Bulgaria, where he remained until 1935. There, he cultivated ecumenical relations with Orthodox Christians, relieved suffering after the 1928 earthquake, and adopted a small steps approach amid difficulties. From 1935 to 1944, he was apostolic delegate in Greece and Turkey, saving Jews during the war and promoting interreligious dialogue.

In 1944, appointed apostolic nuncio in Paris by Pius XII, he helped normalize French ecclesiastical life after the war. His discreet and charitable diplomacy distinguished him as a natural ecumenist.

Cardinal and Patriarch of Venice

In 1953, Pius XII elevated him to cardinal and patriarch of Venice. There, he created about 30 parishes, made intense pastoral visits, and followed the example of predecessor saints such as Saint Lorenzo Giustiniani and Saint Pius X, dedicating himself to the care of souls with simplicity and initiative.

Pontificate as Pope John XXIII

With the death of Pius XII on October 9, 1958, Roncalli was elected pope on October 28, 1958, on the 11th ballot of the conclave, taking the name John XXIII in honor of a conciliar predecessor. He began his pontificate on November 4, 1958, the feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo. At 77 years old, seen as a transitional pope, he surprised the world with bold reforms.

His short pontificate of less than five years was revolutionary. He convoked the Roman Synod, a commission to revise the Code of Canon Law and, above all, the Second Vatican Council in 1962, aiming at aggiornamento — updating the Church for the modern world. He wrote eight encyclicals, highlighting Mater et Magistra (1961) on social progress and Pacem in Terris (1963), on universal peace grounded in truth, justice, charity, and freedom.

'Peace on earth, which men of good will from all over the world long for, can be founded and preserved only in the true peace of Christ.'

— Pacem in Terris, 1963

He held five consistories, nearly doubling the College of Cardinals to 52 members, promoting geographical diversity. Known as the Good Pope, his humility, visits to prisons and hospitals charmed Catholics and non-Catholics alike, boosting ecumenism.

Legacy and Canonization

John XXIII died on June 3, 1963, in the Vatican, of cancer. His beatification process began in 1965 under Paul VI. In 2000, he was beatified by John Paul II after a miracle was recognized in the healing of Sister Caterina Capitani. Canonized on April 27, 2014 by Francis, who dispensed with a second miracle. His legacy includes ecclesial renewal and commitment to peace, making him an icon of goodness and reform.

  • Work for world peace during the Cold War.
  • Promotion of interreligious dialogue.
  • Inspiration for a Church open to the world.

Birth

Date: November 25, 1881
Place: Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy

Death

Date: June 3, 1963
Place: Vatican

Liturgical Feast

October 11

Patronage

  • World peace
  • Ecumenism

Written Works

  • Mater et Magistra (1961) - Encyclical on Christianity and social progress.
  • Pacem in Terris (1963) - Encyclical on universal peace in truth, justice, charity, and freedom.
  • Princeps Pastorum (1963) - Encyclical on missions, native clergy, and lay participation.

Recommended Books

To deepen your knowledge about this person, we recommend:

  • John Paul II – The Biography - Andréa Riccardi
    Includes context about John XXIII in the Paulus Biography collection.

Sources and References

This article was prepared based on the following sources: