Pope John XXIII - Religious Leaders, Timeline and Facts
Pope John XXIII's Personal Details
Pope John XXIII, regarded as one of the most popular popes, was the head of the Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | November 25, 1881 |
| Died on | June 3, 1963 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Famous | Leaders, Spiritual & Religious Leaders, Pope, Religious Leaders, Spiritual |
| Nick names | Johnny Walker |
| Siblings | Alfredo, Ancilla, Angelo Giuseppe, Assunta Casilda, Domenico Giuseppe, Enrica, Francesco Zaverio, Giovanni Francesco, Giuseppe Luigi, Luigi, Maria Caterina, Maria Elisa, Teresa |
| Known as | Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli |
| Birth Place | Sotto il Monte |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Giovanni Battista Roncalli |
| Mother | Marianna Giulia Mazzolla |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Born in | Sotto il Monte |
| Famous as | Pope |
| Died at Age | 81 |
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Who is Pope John XXIII?
Pope John XXIII was a very popular Pope who headed the Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963. Born as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, he was elected as the pope at the age of 77 after eleven ballots. Because of his advanced age at the time of election, he was simply expected to be a caretaker pope. However, he ushered in a new era in the history of the Catholic Church by calling the historic Second Vatican Council. Even though he did not live to see it to completion, his efforts for initiating the council were much appreciated. Before becoming the pope he had served in various positions in the church including the papal nuncio in France, Bulgaria, and Greece. He embarked into a career in religion after completing his doctorate in theology. He had also served in the Royal Italian Army during the World War I as a sergeant. While serving as the Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece, he used his position to help save thousands of Jewish refugees in Europe. He was the Apostolic Nuncio to France during the World War II and he made various efforts during the Holocaust to save Jewish refugees from the Nazis. He also wrote several encyclicals, the most important one being ‘Pacem in Terris’.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as one of the 13 children of Giovanni Battista Roncalli and his wife Marianna Giulia Mazzolla. He was a descendant of an Italian noble family, albeit from an impoverished branch. His family worked as sharecroppers.
He attended the elementary school in town and went to the seminary at Bergamo when he was 12. He won a scholarship to attend the Apollinaris in Rome where he studied under Umberto Benigni, the Church historian.
He completed his doctorate in theology in 1904.
Career
He was ordained a priest in the Catholic church of Santa Maria in 1904. He met the Pope Pius X in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
In 1905, he was made the secretary of Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi, the new Bishop of Bergamo. He worked at this post till the bishop’s death in 1914. During this period he also taught apologetics, church history, and patrology in the diocesan seminary.
Italy entered the World War I in 1915 and Roncalli was drafted into the Royal Italian Army as a sergeant and later served as a chaplain. He was discharged from the army in 1919 whereupon he was named spiritual director of the seminary.
He was appointed the Italian president of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith by Pope Benedict XV in 1921.
Pope Pius XI decided to appoint him as the Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria in 1925, a post he would hold for the next ten years. He was also named for consecration as titular archbishop of Areopolis.
He took up the post of Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece, and titular archbishop of Mesembria in 1935. He used this position to help in saving thousands of Jewish refuges in Europe.
In 1944, Pope Pius XII made Roncalli the Apostolic Nuncio to France. As the Nuncio, he worked hard during the Holocaust to save Jewish refugees from the Nazis.
He was appointed Patriarch of Venice in 1953 and later raised to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca by Pope Pius XII.
Pope Pius XII died in October 1958. The Papal conclave was held to find his successor. Roncalli was chosen as the new pope after 11 ballots. He accepted the election and took the regnal name of John XXIII.
He made pastoral visits in his Diocese of Rome in December 1958 where he visited polio afflicted children at the Bambino Gesu Hospital. He also visited Rome’s Regina Coeli prison.
He called for an ecumenical council almost 90 years after the First Vatican Council. This announcement was made in 1959. The Second Vatican Council brought about a revolution in Catholicism.
Pope John XXIII used the full papal ceremony—he was the last pope to do so. His papal coronation ran for five hours.
The first session of the Second Vatican Council was held in Vatican in October 1962. He delivered a speech to the people at the conclusion of the session which became known as the ‘Speech of the Moon’.
Major Works
He is best remembered for calling the Second Vatican Council which addressed the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern era. The council was commenced under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII in 1962 though the pope did not live to see its completion.
Awards & Achievements
He was awarded the Balzan Prize in 1963 by the Italian president Antonio Segni for his engagement for peace.
He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the U.S.’s highest civilian award—in recognition of the good relationship he shared with the U.S. in December 1963.
Personal Life & Legacy
He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1962. After suffering from the disease for months he died in June 1963 at the age of 81.
He was known as the ‘Good Pope John’ affectionately. He was declared ‘Blessed’ alongside Pope Pius IX by Pope John Paul II in September 2000.
Trivia
Pier Paolo Pasolini's film ‘The Gospel According to St. Matthew’ is dedicated to the memory of this great pope.
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Pope John XXIII's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1963 - Balzan Prize for his engagement for peace | |
| 0 | 1963 - Presidential Medal of Freedom | |
Pope John XXIII biography timelines
- // 25th Nov 1881He was born as one of the 13 children of Giovanni Battista Roncalli and his wife Marianna Giulia Mazzolla. He was a descendant of an Italian noble family, albeit from an impoverished branch. His family worked as sharecroppers.
- // 1904He completed his doctorate in theology in 1904.
- // 1904He was ordained a priest in the Catholic church of Santa Maria in 1904. He met the Pope Pius X in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
- // 1905In 1905, he was made the secretary of Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi, the new Bishop of Bergamo. He worked at this post till the bishop’s death in 1914. During this period he also taught apologetics, church history, and patrology in the diocesan seminary.
- // 1915 To 1919Italy entered the World War I in 1915 and Roncalli was drafted into the Royal Italian Army as a sergeant and later served as a chaplain. He was discharged from the army in 1919 whereupon he was named spiritual director of the seminary.
- // 1921He was appointed the Italian president of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith by Pope Benedict XV in 1921.
- // 1925Pope Pius XI decided to appoint him as the Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria in 1925, a post he would hold for the next ten years. He was also named for consecration as titular archbishop of Areopolis.
- // 1935He took up the post of Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece, and titular archbishop of Mesembria in 1935. He used this position to help in saving thousands of Jewish refuges in Europe.
- // 1944In 1944, Pope Pius XII made Roncalli the Apostolic Nuncio to France. As the Nuncio, he worked hard during the Holocaust to save Jewish refugees from the Nazis.
- // 1953He was appointed Patriarch of Venice in 1953 and later raised to the rank of Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca by Pope Pius XII.
- // 1958Pope Pius XII died in October 1958. The Papal conclave was held to find his successor. Roncalli was chosen as the new pope after 11 ballots. He accepted the election and took the regnal name of John XXIII.
- // 1959He called for an ecumenical council almost 90 years after the First Vatican Council. This announcement was made in 1959. The Second Vatican Council brought about a revolution in Catholicism.
- // 1962The first session of the Second Vatican Council was held in Vatican in October 1962. He delivered a speech to the people at the conclusion of the session which became known as the ‘Speech of the Moon’.
- // 1962He is best remembered for calling the Second Vatican Council which addressed the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern era. The council was commenced under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII in 1962 though the pope did not live to see its completion.
- // 1963He was awarded the Balzan Prize in 1963 by the Italian president Antonio Segni for his engagement for peace.
- // 1963He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the U.S.’s highest civilian award—in recognition of the good relationship he shared with the U.S. in December 1963.
- // 3rd Jun 1963He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1962. After suffering from the disease for months he died in June 1963 at the age of 81.
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Pope John XXIII's FAQ
What is Pope John XXIII birthday?
Pope John XXIII was born at 1881-11-25
When was Pope John XXIII died?
Pope John XXIII was died at 1963-06-03
Where was Pope John XXIII died?
Pope John XXIII was died in Apostolic Palace
Which age was Pope John XXIII died?
Pope John XXIII was died at age 81
Where is Pope John XXIII's birth place?
Pope John XXIII was born in Sotto il Monte
What is Pope John XXIII nationalities?
Pope John XXIII's nationalities is Italian
What is Pope John XXIII nick names?
Pope John XXIII's nickNames is Johnny Walker
Who is Pope John XXIII siblings?
Pope John XXIII's siblings is Alfredo, Ancilla, Angelo Giuseppe, Assunta Casilda, Domenico Giuseppe, Enrica, Francesco Zaverio, Giovanni Francesco, Giuseppe Luigi, Luigi, Maria Caterina, Maria Elisa, Teresa
What is Pope John XXIII's religion?
Pope John XXIII's religion is Roman Catholic
Who is Pope John XXIII's father?
Pope John XXIII's father is Giovanni Battista Roncalli
Who is Pope John XXIII's mother?
Pope John XXIII's mother is Marianna Giulia Mazzolla
What is Pope John XXIII's sun sign?
Pope John XXIII is Sagittarius
How famous is Pope John XXIII?
Pope John XXIII is famouse as Pope