Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII (Latin: Ioannes XXIII; Italian: Giovanni XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, Italian: [ˈandʒelo dʒuˈzɛppe roŋˈkalli];[a] 25 November 1881 – 3 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 1963.
For the 15th-century Pisan antipope, see Antipope John XXIII.
John XXIII
28 October 1958
3 June 1963
10 August 1904
by Giuseppe Ceppetelli
19 March 1925
by Giovanni Tacci Porcelli
12 January 1953
by Pius XII
3 June 1963 (aged 81)
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
- Titular Archbishop of Areopolis (1925–1934)
- Official to Bulgaria (1925–1931)
- Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria (1931–1934)
- Titular Archbishop of Mesembria (1934–1953)
- Apostolic Delegate to Turkey (1934–1944)
- Apostolic Delegate to Greece (1934–1944)
- Apostolic Nuncio to France (1944–1953)
- Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca (1953–1958)
- Patriarch of Venice (1953–1958)
Oboedientia et Pax
(Latin for 'Obedience and Peace')
3 September 2000
Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
by Pope John Paul II
27 April 2014
Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City
by Pope Francis
- Papal vestments
- Papal tiara
- Camauro
Roncalli was among 13 children born to Marianna Mazzola and Giovanni Battista Roncalli in a family of sharecroppers who lived in Sotto il Monte, a village in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy.[8] He was ordained to the priesthood on 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts, as nuncio in France and a delegate to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. In a consistory on 12 January 1953 Pope Pius XII made Roncalli a cardinal as the Cardinal-priest of Santa Prisca in addition to naming him as the Patriarch of Venice. Roncalli was unexpectedly elected pope on 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 historic Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the first session opening on 11 October 1962, which is now his feast.
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."[9][10] 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 the Christian Democracy party to cooperate with the Italian Socialist Party. In international affairs, his Ostpolitik engaged in dialogue with the communist countries of Eastern Europe. He especially reached out to the Eastern Orthodox churches. His overall goal was to modernize the Church by emphasizing its pastoral 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.[11]
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 for canonization was opened on 18 November 1965 by his successor, Pope Paul VI, who declared him a Servant 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 alongside Pope John Paul II on 27 April 2014.[12][13] John XXIII today is affectionately known as "the Good Pope" (Italian: il papa buono).
Papal styles of
Pope John XXIII
Your Holiness
Holy Father
10 August 1904
Santa Maria in Monte Santo in Piazza del Popolo, Rome, Italy
19 March 1925
San Carlo alla Corso, Rome, Italy
12 January 1953
25 July 1937
25 July 1937
11 June 1946
26 August 1953
27 September 1953
27 December 1958
27 December 1958
27 December 1958
27 December 1958
8 May 1960
28 October 1960
19 April 1962
19 April 1962
19 April 1962
21 September 1962
21 September 1962
21 September 1962
25 November 1881
Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Kingdom of Italy
3 June 1963 (aged 81)
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
3 September 2000, St. Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II
27 April 2014, St. Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis
11 October
Papal Vestments, Papal Tiara, Camauro
Patriarchy of Venice, Papal Delegates, Second Vatican Council, Christian Unity, Diocese of Bergamo, Sotto il Monte, Valsamoggia, Italian Army