John XXIII (1881–1963)

Biography

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born in Sotto il Monte, Italy, to a humble family. He was ordained a priest in Rome and after being apostolic delegate in several countries he was named patriarch of Venice and then cardinal. On October 28, 19568 he was elected pope. This man, thick, hearty and simple, so different from his elegant predecessor Pius XII, soon conquered everyone precisely because of his simplicity and goodness and began to be called "The Good Pope." But he was also the providential man who brought the Catholic Church closer to all areas of international society, who convened the Second Vatican Council, and who wrote encyclicals of the category of Mater et magistra and Pacem in terris, which forcefully and correctly updated the social doctrine of the Church. Numerous anecdotes are told about this good Pope: the time he doubled the salary of the bearers of the "gestatory chair", with this explanation: Because I weigh twice as much as Pius XII. He himself said that one of the first nights of his papacy when he could not fall asleep, faced with several serious problems, he said to himself: Let's see, John, who directs the Church, the Holy Spirit, or you? The Holy Spirit, right? Well then, sleep, Juan! And he was able to sleep. The death of John XXIII was a global mourning. Everyone's beloved grandfather was dying. And he died in a peace that we would all like to have at that supreme hour.