11 October: Saint John XXIII
The Pope of Peace and Dialogue with Everyone
“With your hand on your conscience may each one hear the anguished cry which is raised to the skies from all parts of the earth, from the innocent children to the elderly, from the people of the communities: Peace, peace! We renew this solemn plea today”. With these words broadcast on Vatican Radio on 25 October 1962, Saint John XXIII launched an appeal for peace to world leaders, in particular those of the United States of America and the Soviet Union. The world was in the midst of the Cuban missile crisis, and had not come this close to a third world conflict, since the end of World War II. Indeed, between 14 and 19 October, the world was on the very edge of a nuclear abyss. The words of the Pope, who had opened the Second Vatican Council on 11 October, were strongly persuasive on the consciences of people, especially those of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev ((Sergeevič Chruščëv).
On 11 April 1963, Pope John XXIII published his Encyclical Letter Pacem in Terris, in which he addressed all men and women of goodwill. It was Holy Thursday, not a random date, but rather chosen to highlight the foundations of peace: “Peace on Earth—which man throughout the ages has so longed for and sought after—can never be established, never guaranteed, except by the diligent observance of the divinely established order”.
With Pacem in Terris, the Pontiff made a heartfelt appeal to all people, without distinction, to be actively committed to fostering peace, by all means. Because of his zeal for peace among peoples, and his rejection of war, he became known as “The Good Pope”.
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born on 25 November 1881 at Sotto il Monte, Bergamo to a peasant family. Although his family was poor, it was rich in the faith and in values, which were instilled in the heart of young Angelo. In 1892, he entered the Seminary of Bergamo, thanks to the help of a parish priest and Count Giovanni Morlani. In 1900, he received a scholarship and moved to Rome to further his studies in theology. After his ordination in Rome on 10 August 1904, he returned to Bergamo to serve as personal secretary to Bishop Giacomo Maria Radini Tedeschi. During those years, he also taught at the local seminary and launched the publication of the periodical, La Vita Diocesana. When World War 1 broke out, he was drafted into the medical corps and served as chaplain in hospitals.
After he had entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service, Pope Pius XI sent him to Bulgaria as Apostolic Visitator in 1925, a position he kept for 10 years. At the same time, the Pope appointed him Titular Bishop of Areopolis. He chose Oboedientia et pax, as his episcopal motto.
On 27 November 1935, he was appointed Apostolic Delegate in Turkey and Greece. At the outbreak of World War II, he became actively involved in protecting Jews and was able to save hundreds of children from deportation. On 20 December 1944, Pope Pius XII appointed him Apostolic Nuncio in Paris, where at the end of the war, he dealt with prisoners of war, the reorganization of the ecclesiastic hierarchy and worker-priests. On 12 January 1953, he was created a Cardinal and on 25 January he was sent to Venice as Patriarch.
Following the death of Pius XII, he was elected Pope on 28 October 1958, and chose the name John XXIII. During his Pontificate, he convoked the Synod of Rome, established the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law, and convened the Second Vatican Council. He visited parishes in his diocese and dedicated himself to evangelization, ecumenism and dialogue, even with those who were distant from the Church.
In March of 1963, he was awarded the International Balzan Peace Prize, in recognition of his intensive work to avoid conflict and promote peaceful coexistence among peoples.
John XXIII died from stomach cancer on 3 June 1963. He was beatified by John Paul II on 3 September 2000. After his remains were found incorrupt, they were translated to the Basilica of Saint Peter’s Vatican Grottoes, at the Altar of Saint Jerome, on 3 June 2001. Pope Francis canonized him on 27 April 2014. His liturgical memorial is celebrated on 11 October, the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.