Pope John XXIII was elected to the Papacy in 1958. He was the 261st Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. At the time of his election he was widely regarded as a transitional pope. However less than three months after the start of his Papacy he announced the Second Vatican Council. The announcement ushered in a new era for the Roman Catholic Church. He became one of the most popular popes of all time.
Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli in Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy on November 25th 1881. He was ordained a priest in 1904. He served in several different roles, including as papal delegate to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. He also served as papal nuncio in France. In 1953 he was raised to the rank of Cardinal and appointed Patriarch of Venice. He was elected to the papacy in 1958 and served as Pope for just over four years until his death on June 3rd 1963. He was canonised by Pope Francis in 2014
Pope John XXIII, who is known as the ‘Good Pope’, was elected to the papacy in the year 1958 On This Day.
Coronation of Pope John XXIII
I bet some wish he never lifted that lid, spoke the peoples language and stood among the congregation during mass, no longer was the Priest elite at the high alter, rather he was now a servant among the flock. If only his successors had continued the reforms of Vatican 2 much of the abuse could have being prevented and acknowledgment could have come 50 years earlier. Shame on the princes of the church for their cover up and guilt by association.