Saint John XXIII Pope

1881 - 1963

Important Places in His Life Venice

Sotto il Monte – Born in 1881

Bergamo – Attended minor seminary from 1892 – 1901 and served at the bishop’s secretary from 1904 - 1915

Venice – Served as patriarch from 1953 to 1958

Rome – Studied for the priesthood from 1901 – 1904, and lived as pope from 1958 until his death in 1963

Sotto il Monte Bergamo

Rome

Sotto il Monte – Birthplace of Angelo Roncalli

Giovanni Battista Roncalli – Angelo’s Father

Angelo was the first son, after three daughters (13 brothers and sisters in all) of Giovanni Battista Roncalli and Marianna Mazzola.

Room where Angelo was born

Angelo Giuseppe was born at 10:15 in the morning, on November 25, 1881.

The House & Courtyard of the House Where Angelo Was Born

Church of Santa Maria – Where he was baptized by Fr. Francesco Rebuzzini

The parish baptismal registry indicates that he was baptized on the day of this birth & his

great-uncle Zaverio Roncalli was the godfather.

In this same church, he also celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving

on August 15, 1904 a few days after his ordination.

Angelo & His Family Were

Sharecroppers

Carvico, Italy

He and 54 other children were confirmed on February 13, 1889 by Bishop Guindani. Angelo’s sponsor was Giuseppe Ravasio.

Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Brusicco

On March 31, 1889 he received his First Communion from his parish priest, don Francesco Rebuzzini.

Bergamo, Italy

On November 7, 1892 he entered the minor seminary. In June 1895, not yet fourteen, he received the cassock & was admitted to the tonsure.

Seminary of Apollinare in Rome, the Major Seminary where he studied

On January 4, 1901 he officially began to study in Rome and was admitted to the 2nd year of theology.

Roncalli at the Major Seminary in

1901

Roncalli the Soldier In 1901 he started his compulsory military service as a member of the 73rd infantry regiment. He was discharged on November 30, 1902 with the rank of sergeant.

Roncalli with His Brother Seminarians

On July 13, 1904 he received a doctorate in sacred theology.

Santa Maria in Monte Santo, in Piazza del Popolo

He was ordained by Mons. Giuseppe Ceppelletti, titular Patriarch of Constantinople on August 10, 1904 in the Church of St. Mary in Monte Santo.

Clementine Chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica

On August 11, 1904 Roncalli celebrated his first Mass in the Clementine Chapel in St. Peter's Basilica.

Angelo Roncalli the Young Priest

Secretary to the Bishop of Bergamo

On January 29, 1905 he was chosen as a secretary by the new bishop of Bergamo, Mons. Giacomo Maria Radini Tedeschi. He also taught at the local seminary until the death of the bishop in 1914.

Return to Military Service

In 1915 Roncalli was called back to military service where he helped with health care before being honorably discharged as a lieutenant chaplain.

Military Chaplain

He was recalled to military service on May 23, 1915 as a sergeant for health and then as a military chaplain. He was discharged in March 1919.

Pope Benedict XV

In 1921 Pope Benedict XV named him domestic prelate and president of the Italian National Council of the Society for the

Propagation of the Faith.

President of the Italian National Council

The Offices of Propaganda Fide in Piazza di Spagna where Roncalli was president from 1921 to 1925.

Episcopal ordination, held in Rome in San Carlo al Corso Church on March 19, 1925

Angelo Roncalli – Official, Nuncio & Delegate Apostolic Nuncio

to France (1944 - 1953)

Papal Official to Bulgaria

(1925 - 1935)

Apostolic Delegate to Greece

(1934 - 1944)

Apostolic Delegate to Turkey

(1934 - 1944)

Titular Archbishop of Areopolis, Jordan

(1925 - 1934)

Bulgaria 1925-1934

Choumen, Northern Bulgaria, 1926 - The refectories of the Pope

Roncalli – Papal Delegate

Angelo Roncalli – Papal Delegate

Roncalli – Papal Delegate

Roncalli – Papal Delegate

Roncalli – Papal Delegate

Papal Delegate in Eastern Europe

Roncalli’s work in Greece, Turkey, & Bulgaria laid a foundation for the tasks of ecumenism that would be addressed at the Second Vatican Council.

Papal Nuncio to France

Pope Pius XII named Roncalli as Papal Nuncio to France – a role he assumed on January 1, 1945 while World War II was still taking place.

Papal Delegate During World War II

During this period of Roncalli’s life (which coincided with World War II) he helped Jews fleeing from European countries occupied by the Nazis.

Named a Cardinal by Pope Pius XII on January 12, 1953

On January 15, 1953 Roncalli received the cardinal’s biretta from Vincent Auriol, the President of the French Republic.

One of 24 New Cardinals

Carlo Agostini, the Patriarch of Venice, was also to be made a cardinal, but he died before the January 12th Consistory.

The Patriarch of Venice

On January 15, 1953 Roncalli was made the Patriarch of Venice - just three days after being made a cardinal.

Cardinal Roncalli with His Family

The Patriarch of Venice

The Cardinal & His Episcopal Crest

Papal Conclave of 1958

After the death of Pope Pius XII on October 9, 1958, Cardinal Roncalli went to Rome for the conclave.

White Smoke Announcing the New Pope

After the long pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the cardinals chose a man who, it was presumed because of his advanced

age, would be a short-term or "stop-gap" pope.

Pope John XXIII’s Coat of Arms

Visiting Prisoners in Regina Coeli On December 26, 1958, he visited prisoners in the Roman prison of Regina Coeli, telling them: "You can not come to me, so I come to you ... So here I am here, I have come, you have seen me; I set my eyes to yours, I put my heart close to your heart .. the first letter you will write to home must carry the news that the pope was to you and is committed to pray for your family."

Walking the Vatican Gardens

Pope John XXIII in His Papal Office

Signing One of His Encyclicals

Two of his most significant encyclicals were Mater et Magistra (May 15, 1961) & Pacem in Terris (April 11, 1963).

John XXIII signs Humanae Salutis,

formally convoking Vatican Council II

The Papal Bull – Humanae Salutis

Many who were shocked when Pope John XXIII announced a new ecumenical council on January 25, 1959 were still amazed

when it was made official on December 25, 1961.

Pilgrimage to Loreto & Assisi

On October 4, 1962, a week before the beginning of the council, John XXIII went on pilgrimage to Loreto and Assisi to entrust the fate of the

imminent Council to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis.

Opening the Second Vatican Council

The Council was officially opened on October 11, 1962 by Pope John XXIII in the Vatican Basilica.

International Balzan Prize for Peace

On March 1, 1963 Pope John XXIII received the prize for his efforts to avoid conflicts throughout the world and to foster peace between peoples.

The Death of Pope John XXIII

The Pope died of stomach cancer on the evening of June 3, 1963, at 7:49 PM.

John XXIII’s Final Resting Place

On June 3, 2001 - Pentecost Sunday and 38th anniversary of his death - his body was found intact and then moved from an underground

chapel in Saint Peter's Basilica to a side altar dedicated to Saint Jerome.

Canonization & Feast Day

• Beatified September 3, 2000 by Pope John Paul II • Canonized April 27, 2014 by Pope Francis

• Feast Day: October 11

• Patron of: Papal delegates

Contemporaneous Saints & Blesseds • Saint Maria Goretti • Pope Saint Pius X • Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini • Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati • Blessed Miguel Pro • Saint Faustina Kowalska • Saint Teresa Benedicta of the

Cross (Edith Stein) • Saint Katherine Drexel • Saint Gianna Beretta Molla • Saint Pio of Pietrelcina • Saint Josemaria Escriva • Blessed Teresa of Calcutta • Saint Charles Lwanga • Saint Damien of Molokai • Saint John Bosco • Saint Maximilian Kolbe