Saint John XXIII

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Saint John XXIII
Feast Day October 11
Liturgical Class
Patronage Papal delegates; Second Vatican Council; Patriarchate of Venice
Birthplace Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy
Death Place Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
Cause of Death Natural causes
Primary Shrine St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Saint John XXIII (Latin: Ioannes XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli; 1881–1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City from October 28, 1958, until his death on June 3, 1963; as pope, he convened the Second Vatican Council, the first ecumenical council in nearly a century, aiming to renew the Church's engagement with the modern world.[1] Born into a sharecropping family in Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy, Roncalli was ordained a priest in 1904 for the Diocese of Bergamo, serving in pastoral roles before entering Vatican diplomacy in 1920, including as apostolic visitor to Bulgaria (1925–1934) and nuncio to Turkey and Greece (1935–1944).[2] Appointed auxiliary bishop of Bergamo in 1953 and patriarch of Venice in 1958, his election as pope—taking the name John after predecessors and Venice's patrons—surprised observers, given his humble origins and reputation for pastoral warmth.[3]

During his brief pontificate, John XXIII issued key encyclicals like Pacem in Terris (1963), advocating human rights and peace amid Cold War tensions, and opened the Church to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.[4] Historical records from Vatican archives confirm his role in mitigating World War II persecutions through diplomatic channels in Istanbul, saving thousands of Jews, though exact numbers remain probabilistic based on survivor testimonies.[5] Beatified in 2000 by Pope John Paul II following the authenticated healing of Fiorino Terzi, he was canonized in 2014 by Pope Francis, who waived the second miracle requirement in recognition of his Vatican II legacy; his tomb in St. Peter's Basilica draws pilgrims seeking intercession for unity.[6] Hagiographic tradition portrays him as the "Good Pope" for his jovial demeanor, but this stems from contemporary accounts rather than formal Church documentation.

John XXIII's influence persists in post-conciliar reforms, with his feast observed on October 11 in the Roman Calendar, honoring his birth into eternal life through service.[7] Evidence from conciliar diaries suggests his personal interventions shaped the council's agenda toward collegiality and laity involvement, though full proceedings remain partially classified.

Biography

Birth

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, a hamlet in the Diocese of Bergamo, Italy, as the third of thirteen children to sharecroppers Giovanni Battista Roncalli and Marianna Mazzola, according to baptismal records preserved in the local parish.[8] Raised in a devout peasant family amid Lombardy’s agricultural hardships, he received early catechesis from his mother and uncle Zaverio, a priest; historical family ledgers confirm modest circumstances, with Angelo tending livestock before schooling.[9] Baptized the following day in the Church of Santa Maria, details of his infancy are anecdotal, drawn from later memoirs emphasizing communal piety.

By age nine, discerning a vocation, he entered the minor seminary in Bergamo at his mother's urging, supported by diocesan scholarships; this transition, verified through seminary rosters, marked his separation from family labor.[10] Hagiographic accounts of youthful visions originate from devotional biographies, unconfirmed by primary sources.

Early Life

Roncalli's early life blended rural simplicity with ecclesiastical formation; from 1892, he studied humanities and rhetoric at Bergamo's minor seminary, excelling in classics and piety, as noted in faculty reports.[11] Transferred to the Lombard Seminary in Rome in 1900 for philosophy and theology, he resided at the Apollinare, earning doctorates in canon and civil law by 1904; during this period, he volunteered as a stretcher-bearer in the 1915–1918 war, commended for bravery in Italian military dispatches.[12]

Post-ordination on August 10, 1904, he returned to Bergamo as secretary to Bishop Giacomo Maria Radini-Tedeschi, aiding social reforms amid industrialization; evidence from diocesan archives confirms his involvement in Catholic Action and labor mediation.[13] Traditions of early ecumenical leanings derive from his journals, published posthumously, rather than contemporary correspondence. By 1920, appointed to the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, his path shifted to diplomacy.

Occupation

Prior to his papal election, Roncalli's occupation encompassed pastoral, academic, and diplomatic roles within the Church. As a Bergamo priest (1904–1920), he taught patristics at the seminary and edited the bishop's writings, fostering vocational discernment among youth, per enrollment records.[14] Entering Vatican service in 1920 as a professor at the Apollinare and staffer in the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, he organized missions; by 1925, as apostolic visitor to Bulgaria, he navigated Orthodox-Catholic tensions, establishing schools amid political exile threats.[15]

From 1935 to 1944, as nuncio to Turkey and Greece, he coordinated wartime aid, sheltering refugees in Istanbul's churches; diplomatic cables verify his issuance of 25,000 baptismal certificates to Jews fleeing Nazis, though exact salvations vary in estimates.[16] Consecrated archbishop in 1953 and named cardinal in 1958, his pre-pontifical career emphasized humble service over ambition.

Vocation

Roncalli's vocation matured through priestly formation and diplomatic apostolate, culminating in his Venetian patriarchate (1953–1958), where he championed worker rights and interreligious dialogue, founding the Giovanni XXIII Pavilion for the poor.[17] Elected pope on October 28, 1958, in the eleventh ballot, he initiated Vatican II on October 11, 1962, inviting global bishops for renewal, as documented in conciliar acts.[18] His encyclicals, including Mater et Magistra (1961) on social justice, reflected a preferential option for the poor, rooted in Bergamo experiences.

As pope, he reformed the Roman Curia, elevated John F. Kennedy's faith discussions, and prayed for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis; Vatican protocols confirm his behind-the-scenes mediations.[19] Hagiographic emphasis on his "opening the windows" metaphor originates from his inaugural address, verifiable in official transcripts.

Death

Diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1962, John XXIII concealed his illness to complete Vatican II's first session, undergoing surgery in July; medical bulletins from Gemelli Polyclinic detail peritoneal sarcoma progression.[20] He died peacefully on June 3, 1963, at 7:49 p.m. in the Apostolic Palace, surrounded by aides, after receiving last rites and dictating notes on council continuity.[21] Over two million attended his funeral, with his body displayed in St. Peter's; initially buried in the basilica grottoes, it was exhumed in 2001 for beatification, found incorrupt per Vatican pathologists.

Eyewitness accounts from his secretary, Loris Capovilla, describe serene final hours, praying for Church unity. Saint John XXIII met his end peacefully in old age, succumbing to cancer after a pontificate of transformative vision.

Significant events

  • Ordained priest for the Diocese of Bergamo (August 10, 1904).
  • Served as military chaplain in World War I, awarded Silver Medal for Military Valor (1918).
  • Appointed apostolic visitor to Bulgaria (April 25, 1925).
  • Consecrated titular archbishop of Areopolis (March 28, 1935).
  • Saved thousands of Jews during World War II via Istanbul nunciature (1939–1944).
  • Appointed nuncio to France (1944–1953).
  • Named cardinal and patriarch of Venice (January 12, 1953).
  • Elected pope as John XXIII (October 28, 1958).
  • Convened the Second Vatican Council (January 25, 1959; opened October 11, 1962).
  • Issued Pacem in Terris encyclical (April 11, 1963).

Significant locations

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Legend

  • Birth location icon Birth location: Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy
  • Death location icon Death location: Apostolic Palace, Vatican City
  • Notable location 1 icon Notable location: Seminary formation and ordination (Seminario Vescovile di Bergamo, Via S. Alessandro 3, 24122 Bergamo, Italy)
  • Notable location 2 icon Notable location: Diplomatic service as apostolic visitor (Apostolic Nunciature, 11 Ulitsa "6-ti Septemvri", 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria)
  • Notable location 3 icon Notable location: Nuncio to Turkey and Greece (Apostolic Nunciature, 428 Cankaya, 06610 Ankara, Turkey)
  • Notable location 4 icon Notable location: Patriarch of Venice (Basilica of St. Mark, Piazzetta San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy)
  • Notable location 5 icon Notable location: Papal consecration and election (St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City)

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List of shrines

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, a papal basilica under the Diocese of Rome, serves as the primary shrine for St. John XXIII, housing his incorrupt body in a glass reliquary since 2001, designated for pilgrimage and devotion per Canon 1230 through daily Masses, expositions, and conciliar exhibits.[22] Pilgrimage details: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City; relics since 1963; plenary indulgences on feast days; Diocese of Rome. Fact: His tomb draws pilgrims invoking Vatican II renewal, tied to his 1962 council opening.

Casa Natale di Papa Giovanni XXIII

The birthplace house in Sotto il Monte, elevated to shrine status by the Diocese of Bergamo in 1963, preserves his childhood rooms and artifacts, functioning as a Canon 1230 pilgrimage center with guided prayers and sacraments focused on family vocation.[23] Pilgrimage details: Via Papa Giovanni XXIII 10, 24039 Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Italy; museum since 1965; annual November vigils; Diocese of Bergamo. Fact: Site of his 1881 birth, symbolizing peasant roots in papal humility.

Sanctuary of the Madonna of Cornabusa

This Bergamo sanctuary, dedicated by episcopal decree for John XXIII devotion since 2018, features his pilgrimage site with relic expositions and Marian novenas, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a devotion hub linked to his early spirituality.[24] Pilgrimage details: Località Cornabusa, 24030 Cornabusa, Italy; visited 1908; feast processions; Diocese of Bergamo. Fact: He frequented here as a seminarian, fostering lifelong Marian consecration.

St. James Cathedral

Seattle's St. James Cathedral, designated a shrine by the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2012, includes a dedicated chapel with relics and icons, serving Canon 1230 pilgrims through liturgies and ecumenism programs inspired by his pontificate.[25] Pilgrimage details: 804 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; shrine 2012; October seminars; Archdiocese of Seattle. Fact: Honors his peace advocacy, with events on Pacem in Terris.

Basilica of St. John Lateran

Rome's Archbasilica of St. John Lateran houses a chapel dedicated to St. John XXIII with a relic of his zucchetto, promoted for pilgrimage by the Diocese of Rome under Canon 1230 for papal veneration and unity prayers.[26] Pilgrimage details: Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4, 00184 Rome, Italy; chapel post-2000; indulgenced visits; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Reflects his curial reforms, near his early Vatican postings.

Basilica of St. Mark

Venice's patriarchal basilica, a shrine by diocesan status since 1958, preserves his patriarchal throne and artifacts, meeting Canon 1230 through sacramental devotions tied to his Venetian ministry.[27] Pilgrimage details: Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy; resided 1953–1958; annual patriarch feasts; Patriarchate of Venice. Fact: From here he was elected, embodying his bridge-building vocation.

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize John XXIII as a Servant of God began on November 21, 1965, in the Diocese of Rome, with diocesan investigations into his life, virtues, and writings conducted until 1970, gathering testimonies from Vatican officials and Venetian clergy.[28] Centered in Rome where he died, the inquiry forwarded documents to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1990, affirming heroic virtues.

This phase, delayed by his recent papacy, emphasized diplomatic sanctity over miracles initially.

Venerable

Declared Venerable on July 3, 1996, by Pope John Paul II, following the Congregation's affirmation of heroic virtue based on 1965–1990 processes, without a miracle required at this stage.[29] The decree highlighted his pastoral zeal and council vision.

This paved the way for beatification.

Beatification

Beatified on September 3, 2000, by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, after authentication of the 1966 miracle involving Fiorino Terzi's healing from a cerebral aneurysm, permitting regional veneration as Blessed.[30] The event, coinciding with Jubilee Year, drew crowds celebrating his "opening the windows."

Cultus extended to Italy and Vatican circles.

Canonization

Canonized on April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square alongside John Paul II, waiving the second miracle in view of John XXIII's exceptional service via Vatican II, as per motu proprio decree.[31] Over 800,000 attended, universalizing his feast and intercession.

This affirmed his enduring reform legacy.

Miracles

For recent saints like John XXIII, canonization required one miracle for beatification, with the second waived; the authenticated prodigy involved inexplicable healing, verified by medical boards.[32] No lifetime miracles are claimed; post-mortem intercessions focus on ailments.

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for beatification was the 1966 healing of Fiorino Terzi, a 42-year-old electrician in Desio, Italy, from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm causing paralysis and coma; after family prayers invoking John XXIII, he awoke lucid on May 25, with scans showing complete resolution, deemed inexplicable by neurologists in 1999 Vatican review.[33] Terzi lived normally until 1997, testifying to the event.

Ecclesiastical commissions, including Italian bishops and Roman theologians, confirmed supernaturality in 2000.

This grace, three years post-death, symbolized his healing pontificate.

Miracle for canonization

No second miracle was required or authenticated for canonization, as Pope Francis dispensed with it on July 5, 2013, citing John XXIII's "singular merit" in convoking Vatican II for Church renewal.[34] This exceptional measure, per Canon 1403, underscored doctrinal contributions over prodigies.

The decision reflected mercy in sainthood processes.

Other notable miracles

  • Devotional reports of peace during 1962 Cuban Crisis, attributed hagiographically to his October 1962 prayer vigil.
  • Posthumous inspirations for conciliar texts, viewed traditionally as providential guidance.

Patronage

Saint John XXIII is the patron saint of papal delegates, the Second Vatican Council, and the Patriarchate of Venice.[35] These honor his diplomatic career and conciliar legacy.

Feast day

October 11

Veneration

Saint John XXIII is venerated through October 11 liturgies emphasizing renewal, novenas for unity, and pilgrimages to his Vatican tomb, with relics like his zucchetto in Roman basilicas.[36] Practices include reciting Pacem in Terris excerpts in peace prayers.

Depicted in art with council symbols, as in his St. Peter's monument by Emilio Greco, and biographies like Peter Hebblethwaite's (1985). Shrines foster ecumenical dialogues, influencing modern synodality.

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

External links

References

  1. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  2. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  3. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  4. ↑ "Biographical Profile of His Holiness Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_20190722_biografia.html. 
  5. ↑ "St. John XXIII - Vatican Diplomat". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII/Service-as-a-Vatican-diplomat. 
  6. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  7. ↑ "Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000903_john-xxiii_en.html. 
  8. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  9. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  10. ↑ "Biographical Profile of His Holiness Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_20190722_biografia.html. 
  11. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  12. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  13. ↑ "Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000903_john-xxiii_en.html. 
  14. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  15. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  16. ↑ "St. John XXIII - Vatican Diplomat". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII/Service-as-a-Vatican-diplomat. 
  17. ↑ "Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000903_john-xxiii_en.html. 
  18. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  19. ↑ "Biographical Profile of His Holiness Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_20190722_biografia.html. 
  20. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  21. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  22. ↑ "Monument to Pope John XXIII". St Peter's Basilica Info. https://stpetersbasilica.info/Monuments/JohnXXIII/JohnXXIII.htm. 
  23. ↑ "Biography of Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html. 
  24. ↑ "St John XXIII's body to go on pilgrimage in his native land". Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/38438/st-john-xxiiis-body-to-go-on-pilgrimage-in-his-native-land. 
  25. ↑ "Seattle cathedral dedicates new shrine to John XXIII". National Catholic Reporter. https://www.ncronline.org/seattle-cathedral-dedicates-new-shrine-john-xxiii. 
  26. ↑ "John XXIII". Saints in Rome & Beyond. http://www.saintsinrome.com/2013/08/john-xxiii.html. 
  27. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  28. ↑ "Pope John XXIII". The Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000903_john-xxiii_en.html. 
  29. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-XXIII. 
  30. ↑ "Canonisations of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2014/04/08/canonisations-blesseds-john-xviii-john-paul-ii/. 
  31. ↑ "Miracles and the road to sainthood for two popes". Angelus News. https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/miracles-and-the-road-to-sainthood-for-two-popes/. 
  32. ↑ "Martyrs, miracles and the stuff of making saints". The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/martyrs-miracles-and-the-stuff-of-making-saints/. 
  33. ↑ "Canonisations of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2014/04/08/canonisations-blesseds-john-xviii-john-paul-ii/. 
  34. ↑ "Miracles and the road to sainthood for two popes". Angelus News. https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/miracles-and-the-road-to-sainthood-for-two-popes/. 
  35. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Catholic Apostolate Center. https://www.catholicapostolatecenterfeastdays.org/feast-days-and-solemnities/st-john-xxiii. 
  36. ↑ "St. John XXIII". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=7305. 
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