Pope John XXIII Autograph

Profession:
(born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, 1881-1963) Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 1963.

Year of Birth: 1881

Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, Italy, was the pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963. He is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and influential popes of the 20th century.

After serving as a priest in various parishes, Roncalli was appointed as the Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece in 1935. He later served as the Apostolic Nuncio to France before being named a cardinal in 1953 by Pope Pius XII.

Known for his humility, warmth, and sense of humor, John XXIII was instrumental in convening the historic Second Vatican Council in 1962. This council aimed to bring about a renewal and reform within the church and to address the challenges of the modern world.

During his papacy, John XXIII instituted several groundbreaking reforms, including allowing the use of vernacular languages in the liturgy, promoting ecumenical dialogue with other Christian denominations, and fostering greater social justice and peace efforts.

His encyclical, Pacem in Terris, issued in 1963, called for a world based on truth, justice, love, and freedom. This document greatly influenced the peace movement of the 1960s and is still seen as a foundational text for Catholic social teaching.

John XXIII passed away on June 3, 1963, but his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of Catholics worldwide. In 2014, he was declared a saint by Pope Francis, recognizing his profound impact on the church and the world.