The Good Pope

Controversial stories came out after his death in the way he handled the events during World War II.  However, he was always considered a good man.  Times were hard and many secretive missions took place that we learn about through those he helped.

Feast day: June 3
Patron of Papal delegates, Patriarchy of Venice, Second Vatican Council
Birth: 1881
Death: 1963
Born in small village in Italy to poor parents (sharecroppers)
Named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli

He was ordained to the priesthood on 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts.

In 1905, Roncalli was appointed to act as secretary for his bishop.  He continued working as the bishop's secretary until the bishop died in August 1914. The bishop's last words to Roncalli were, "Pray for peace."

Words that Roncali would not forget, especially as Italy was drawn into World War II and Roncalli was drafted into the Italian Army as a stretcher bearer and chaplain.  Roncalli did his duty and was eventually discharged from the army in 1919.

In 1925, Roncalli was summoned to the Vatican and he was sent to Bulgaria as the Apostolic Visitor to that country. Later, he was appointed aspostolic delegate to Turkey and Greece and made archbishop of Mesembria.

Beginning in 1935, racial tensions and anti-Jewish sentiment began to explode into actual acts of violence against the Jews and other ethnic minorities. Roncalli started using his influence to save what people he could from both local authorities and later the Nazis. During his tenure as archbishop, Roncalli saved thousands of Jews, enough that he was named a "Righteous Gentile" following the war.

In late 1944, Roncalli was appointed as the new papal Nuncio and sent to France to negotiate the retirement of bishops who were involved with the Nazis.

In 1952, Roncalli was offered a new position, this time as Patriarch of Venice. At the same time he assumed his new title, Roncalli became the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca. He assumed his new responsibilities on March 15, 1953.

Pope Pius XII died on October 9, 1958 and Roncalli was soon summoned to Rome where he was to participate in the process of selecting a new pope.  After 11 ballots, he was elected to serve as Pope and took the name John XXIII.  This name was quite significant as there was an anti-pope 500 years before who had taken this name.  The pope wanted to make it clear that the apostolic succession continued.

This was only the beginning of his desire to bring unity within the Church.  One of his first actions as pope was to go out to the community for visits.  He visited the sick, the poor, and prisoners. He apologized for episodes of anti-Semitism within the Church carried on by some of his predecessors.

Then he called a ecumenical council to form...we know it as Vatican II.  As we realize now, this council would help to clarify the teachings of the Church.  He prohibited the use of contraceptives which interfere with the procreative will of God. He upheld the traditional view that married couples may not divorce. He also moved to protect the Church from scandal, ordering confidentiality when dealing with matters of clergy accused of the sexual abuse of children. (Some would deem this a way to cover up the abuse; however, he saw this as a way to defend the clergy of false accusations.)

Pope John XXIII did not live to see the Vatican Council to completion.  On June 3, 1963, Pope John XXIII died (stomach cancer) in his bed at age 81.

The world mourned John XXIII and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Johnson in December 1963.  Pope John XXIII generally maintained a good reputation among those who remembered him and he was often titled "the Good."

On September 3, 2000, Pope John Paul beatified him. Miracles were attributed to him and his body was found to be in an uncorrupted state, a phenomenon consistent with sainthood. His body was put on display for the veneration of the faithful.  Pope John XXIII's feast day will be October 11, as opposed to the day of his death, which is June 3. This special feast day is intended as a commemoration of the opening of the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962.

SIDE NOTE:  When on my two week stay in Rome for study, I was able to visit his uncorrupt body on display in St. Peter's Basilica.

After studying his life, it is easy to see that he led a life of humility.  Here is a quote that sums up his life:

"In the hour of farewell, or, better, of leave-taking, I repeat once more that what matters most in this life is: our blessed Jesus Christ, his holy Church, his Gospel, and in the Gospel above all else the Our Father according to the mind and heart of Jesus, and the truth and goodness of his Gospel, goodness which must be meek and kind, hardworking and patient, unconquerable and victorious."

—John XXIII.Spiritual Testament. 1954 p.343, Journal of a Soul

I do wish that the spirit of Pope John XXIII would be upon the current synod on the family.  I believe he would reiterate what he once said about the family:

"The family, founded upon marriage freely contracted, one and indissoluble, must be regarded as the natural, primary cell of human society. The interests of the family, therefore, must be taken very specially into consideration in social and economic affairs, as well as in the spheres of faith and morals. For all of these have to do with strengthening the family and assisting it in the fulfilment of its mission"

—John XXIII.Pacem in Terris. 1963

Saint John XXIII, pray for us!