Life Story of Pope John XXIII

POPE JOHN XXIII

1958-1963

" On October 20, 1958, the cardinals assembled in conclave, and elected Angelo Roncalli as pope. Many regarded him because of his age and ambiguous reputation. Little realizing that the pontificate of this man of 76 years would mark a turning point in history and initiate a new age for the Church. He took the name of John in honor of the precursor and the beloved disciple. But also because it was the name of a long line of popes whose term to be pope  had been short.

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the third of thirteen children, was born on November 25, 1881 at Sotto il Monte (Bergamo) of a family of sharecroppers. He attended elementary school in the town, was tutored by a priest of Carvico, and at the age of twelve entered the seminary at Bergamo.

A scholarship from the Cerasoli Foundation (1901) enabled him to go on to the Apollinaris in Rome where he studied under (among others) Umberto Benigni, the Church historian. He interrupted his studies for service in the Italian Army but returned to the seminary, completed his work for a doctorate in theology, and was ordained in 1904. 

Continuing his studies in canon law, he was appointed secretary to the new bishop of Bergamo, Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi. Angelo served this social-minded prelate for nine years, acquiring first-hand experience and a broad understanding of the problems of the working class. He also taught apologetics, church history, and patrology.

In 1921, he was called to Rome to reorganize the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He immediately concerned himself with the problems of the Eastern Churches. 

Transferred in 1934 to Turkey and Greece as apostolic delegate, he set up an office in Istanbul for locating prisoners of war. In 1944 he was appointed nuncio to Paris to assist in the Church's post-war efforts in France, and became the first permanent observer of the Holy See at UNESCO, addressing its sixth and seventh general assemblies in 1951 and 1952. 

In 1953 he became cardinal-patriarch of Venice, and expected to spend his last years there in pastoral work. He was correcting proofs of the synodal Acts of his first diocesan Synod (1958) when he was called to Rome to participate in the conclave that elected him pope.

Since his death on June 3, 1963, much has been written and spoken about the warmth and holiness of the beloved Pope John. Perhaps the testimony of the world was best expressed by a newspaper drawing of the earth shrouded in mourning with the simple caption, "A Death in the Family." "

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/biography/documents/hf_j-xxiii_bio_16071997_biography.html




My thoughts:

My own personal view of Pope John's life is that it was very outspokenly great. It seams as a pope himself, he was very outspoken in his work. He had an open heart and mind in showing his hope-filled spirituality. Pope John cared for the people and their lives.
During World War II, he helped save lives of many Jewish families.
He had a big part in renewing and modernizing the Catholic Church. He was not only part of the church, but the whole world. He was a very gracious and warm hearted man. He worked for and with the people.
He spread wisdom all through out the world. For that reason, he left a long lasting legacy.
To me, wisdom changes many lives. For that reason, I believe Pope John changed many lives. Not only mentally, but spiritually.  

Ryann Cornelius