Pope John XXIII, one of the Church’s recently canonized saints, convoked the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) with its aggiornamento (updating) agenda for Church renewal. In fact, John XXIII’s annual feast day on October 11 commemorates his opening of Vatican II on October 11, 1962.
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the fourth of thirteen children of peasant farmers, was born in the village of Sotto il Monte in Northern Italy on November 25, 1881. He entered the seminary as a young boy. Significantly, at the tender age of fifteen he began writing his spiritual diary, which was published as Journal of a Soul shortly after his death. Pope John’s aim in life was to be a holy priest. One could validly say that he always tried to be a saint–and he made it!
John XXIII received varied assignments. He served as the bishop’s secretary, taught in the seminary, was military chaplain during World War I, worked in Rome at Propaganda Fide, was papal representative in Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece, served as apostolic nuncio to France, and became cardinal-patriarch of Venice. This broad and diverse experience served him well during his pontificate.
Beginning his pontificate at age seventy-seven on October 28, 1958, Angelo Roncalli brought a whole new pastoral and personal style to the papacy. Over the years of his short pontificate (1958-1963) John XXIII became a beloved figure worldwide, popularly known as “Good Pope John.” Describing the person and contribution of John XXIII during his visit to Bergamo on June 3, 2013 (50th anniversary of John’s death), Pope Francis noted that John XXIII’s life is a lesson in how obedience and trust in God lead to interior peace.
Pope Francis said: “The whole world recognized Pope John as a pastor and father, a pastor because he was a father…. It is so beautiful to find a priest, a good priest, filled with goodness.” He was “an effective weaver of relationships and a solid champion of unity, both in the ecclesiastical community and outside it.” He was always “open to dialogue with the Christians of other churches, with representatives of the Jewish and Muslim worlds and with many other people of good will.”
JOY AND OPTIMISM
Indeed, the world loved Pope John XXIII and his cheerful, affectionate nature. He was an optimist and communicated this spirit to the Church–particularly through the Second Vatican Council. In his spiritual diary he noted: “I have never met a pessimist who accomplished any good.” He retained his good humor in spite of many very difficult assignments (Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece); he did not complain but chose to seize the moment and emphasize the potential good to be accomplished.
Many laudatory things can be noted about John XXIII; joy and joviality, humor and happiness were characteristic of his personality. Two examples suffice: One day he overheard some Italian women speaking of his appearance and that he was old, obese, and homely. Pope John turned and benignly observed: “You must remember that being pope is not exactly a beauty contest.” A diplomat newly accredited to the Holy See was received by the Pope. He asked the Pontiff how many persons worked at the Vatican. “Oh, no more than half of them!” replied John XXIII, winking an eye.
GENUINE SPIRITUALITY
John XXIII’s outlook is, in fact, a spirituality that he communicated to the world. He took the call to holiness seriously throughout his entire life. His profound trust was evident in his simplicity, patience, gentleness and affability, qualities manifested in his varied writings.
John XXIII could be very forceful in asserting his conviction that the Christian faith should result in deep, joyful hope. In his opening speech to the Second Vatican Council he said: “We feel we must disagree with those prophets of gloom who are always forecasting disaster, as though the end of the world were at hand” (quoted by Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 84). He believed that divine providence was renewing humanity through a perceptive reading of the “signs of the times” (cf. EG 14, 51, 108).
Some insights from the “Daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII” are: • Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one. • Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it. • Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.”
We marvel at John XXIII’s wisdom and seek to put it into practice–each and every day, transforming us all into a truly joyful community of Jesus’ missionary-disciples!
James H. Kroeger, MM, served mission in Asia for over five decades; recently he authored Walking with Pope Francis; The Official Documents in Everyday Language (Paulines Philippines – 2023) and A Joyful Journey with Pope Francis (Faith Alive Books, USA – 2024).
