Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli
- Born:
- November 25, 1881, Sotto il Monte, Italy
- Died:
- June 3, 1963, Vatican City
- Nationality:
- Italian
- Profession(s):
- Catholic Priest, Archbishop, Papal Nuncio, Cardinal, Pope
Early Life and Education
- Born into a family of sharecroppers in Lombardy, Italy.
- Entered the seminary in Bergamo at the age of 11.
- Ordained as a priest in 1904.
- Served as secretary to the Bishop of Bergamo during World War I.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as a hospital orderly during World War I.
- Appointed Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria in 1925.
- Served as Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece from 1934 to 1944.
- Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to France in 1944.
- Created Cardinal in 1953 and appointed Patriarch of Venice.
- Elected Pope in 1958, taking the name John XXIII. A short biography of Pope John XXIII often highlights his unexpected election.
- Convened the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), a landmark event in the Catholic Church's history.
Notable Works
- Encyclical Mater et Magistra (1961): Addressed social and economic problems.
- Encyclical Pacem in Terris (1963): Appealed for peace and human rights during the Cold War.
- The Second Vatican Council's documents, including Lumen Gentium, Dei Verbum, and Gaudium et Spes.
Legacy and Impact
Pope John XXIII is remembered for his warmth, humility, and efforts to modernize the Catholic Church. His initiation of the Second Vatican Council led to significant reforms in liturgical practices, ecumenical relations, and the Church's engagement with the modern world. He is often referred to as "Good Pope John."