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| Saint Pope John XXIII |
On November 25, 1881, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born in Sotto il Monte, a village near Bergamo in northern Italy. His family worked the land and lived with modest means. From these humble beginnings, Angelo entered the seminary and prepared for a life of service to God. He was ordained a priest in 1904.
His priesthood brought him close to suffering. During the First World War, he served first in the medical corps and then as a military chaplain, ministering to soldiers in hospitals. Later, his work for the Holy See took him to Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, and France. During the Second World War, he helped Jewish people escape persecution through transit visas issued by the Apostolic Delegation.
In 1953, he became a cardinal and Patriarch of Venice. Five years later, on October 28, 1958, he was elected pope at seventy-six and took the name John XXIII. His warmth was evident in his visits to the sick and imprisoned. People came to know him affectionately as the Good Pope.
John’s greatest undertaking was the Second Vatican Council, which he opened on October 11, 1962. He called the Church to proclaim the Gospel with renewed courage and to approach the needs of the world with pastoral care. At his canonization, Pope Francis recalled his willingness to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in convening the council.
In April 1963, John issued Pacem in Terris, addressing all people of goodwill. He taught that lasting peace required respect for human dignity, rights, and duties, grounded in truth, justice, charity, and freedom.
He died on June 3, 1963, before the council’s work was complete. Pope Francis canonized him on April 27, 2014. His feast is celebrated on October 11, the anniversary of the council’s opening. His life offers an enduring example of prayer expressed through kindness, courage, and care for others.
For a devotional image of St. John XXIII, click here: Maryvale Catholic Press
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