Jean XXIII

This article concerns the pope Jean XXIII (1881-1963). For the antipape of the 15th century, to see Jean XXIII (antipape).

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (Sotto it Assembles, close to Bergamo, Italy, November 25th 1881 - Rome, June 3rd 1963), elected pope the October 28th 1958 under the name of Jean XXIII (in Latin Ioannes XXIII , in Italian Giovanni XXIII ).

Its beginnings

Born an large family from modest milieu, it enters to the Séminaire at the twelve years age. It follows the traditional ecclesiastical course there. In 1904, it is ordered priest. A little later it is named secretary of Mgr Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi, new bishop of Bergamo. It remains with its service until its death in 1914 at the beginning of the First World War. For this period, it also deals with teaching near the seminar of Bergamo.

In 1915, it is built-in the health service of the armies, before becoming military Aumônier. After the war, he becomes spiritual director of the seminar of Bergamo.

In 1921, it enters the Roman Curie, in the Congregation for the propagation of the faith (more known under the name of Propaganda Fide ). In 1925, Pie XI promotes it bishop and the envoy in Bulgaria, ground orthodoxe, as a visitor, then apostolic delegate. It occupies then the same station with Istanbul between 1935 and 1944, which enables him to save, during the occupation, of the victims of the Nazisme.

In 1945, it succeeds like Apostolic nuncio of Paris to Mgr Valeri, compromised with the Régime of Vichy. It successfully regulates the problem of the other bishops compromised with the Régime of Vichy, whose French government asked for substitution. Pie XII will have to accept only the resignations of three prelates: bishops of Mende, Aix-en-Provence and Arras.

In 1953, its career diplomatic is completed, and it turns over to its first pastoral vocation: it is named patriarch Venice, then cardinal.

A pope of transition?

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L' Habemus papam of Jean XXIII, marked the 28 octobre 1958 by the cardinal protodiacre Nicola Canali.

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The October 25th 1958 opened the Conclave according to the death of Pie XII.

The reign of Pie XII very long (19 years), and had been marked by a progressive centralization of the capacity. The cardinals thus wished at the same time a rupture with the style of government imposed by fire Pie XII, and to mark a time of reflection vis-a-vis the changes started in the Church. After ten unfruitful ballots, Roncalli seemed an ideal pope of transition. Skilful diplomat, francophile, it was of modest origin, cherished his pastoral activity and showed a temperament catch. He was thus elected Pape the October 28th 1958. He chooses the name of Jean XXIII ( Ioannes XXIII ), name already carried by a Antipape at the time of the Great Schism of Occident (see the article Jean XXIII (antipape) ). He was crowned the November 4th.

At the beginning of his pontificate, Jean XXIII stressed the pastoral aspect of his load; thus it was the first, since Pie IX, to leave the Vatican after its election, which enabled him to fully assume its title of bishop of Rome, often neglected by its predecessors. It solemnly took possession of the Basilique Midsummer's Day of Lateran and visited the Roman parishes.

A reforming pope

The January 25th 1959, Jean XXIII convened the second council of the Vatican, vector of an important modernization of the Catholic church. It also engaged the reform of the canonical Code of right, going back to 1917. The preparation of the council was entrusted to the Secrétairerie of State. A Chancery for the unit of the Christians was created, and had as a result the presence of several tens of observers of nonChristian Churches.

The October 11th 1962, the council, usually indicated under the name of " since then; the Vatican II " , was open. Jean XXIII made there a very important speech, written personally for his greater part:

“the humble successor of the Prince of the apostles who speaks to you, the latest to date, wanted by convening these important sitted to give a new assertion of always alive ecclesiastical magistère and which will continue until the end of times. By the Council, by taking account of the errors, the needs and the possibilities of our time, this magistère will be presented today extraordinary way to all the men who live on the Earth. (...)

What is very important for the ecumenical Council, it is that the crowned deposit of the Christian doctrines is preserved and presented in a more effective way.

Jean XXIII asked that the question of the relations of the Catholic church with the Jews be tackled with the council. More generally, the very substantial conclusions of this council led to invite the Catholics, while recalling their duty of fidelity to their faith, to show tolerance towards faithful other religions. They affirmed, in the declaration " Nostra Ætate ", and this besides in the line of the Council of Thirty, that neither the Jews of the time of the Christ, nor the Jews today could be regarded as more responsible of died for Jesus only the Christians themselves.

In September 1962, a cancer was diagnosed. Jean XXIII endeavoured to allow the council to continue his work. The April 11th 1963, it promulgated the Encyclique '' Pacem in terris '', addressed to all the men of good will, condemning the concept of “war right”. May 11th it accepted the Balzan price for its engagement in favor of peace. It was its last public appearance, it died indeed the June 3rd 1963, feastday of the Pentecost.

It was béatifié the September 3rd 2001 by Jean-Paul II. Since then, its body rests under a furnace bridge of the Basilique Saint-Pierre.

A discussed election?

A theory emitted by adversaries of the reforms inspired by Jean XXIII has advanced that this pope would have been actually a antipape and that the true pope would have been the cardinal Giuseppe Siri, elected with the conclave 1958, which would explain uncertainties about the color of smoke.

It would have been claimed that the Siri cardinal had been elected actually with the third turn at the time of this conclave: it is indisputable that the Radio-Vatican within sight of apparently white smoke, had concluded that a pope had been elected with the third turn and had even announced it, saying to the listeners “ smoke is white… That is not a doubt. A pope was elected . ” At eighteen hours with the third tower white smoke appeared, and the public was alerted; the Swiss Guards met to solemnly pay homage to the new Roman pontiff, before having to withdraw itself.

The Siri cardinal would have chosen the name of Gregoire XVII and prepared to appear with the balcony, but was obliged to withdraw itself: it would have indeed been informed that its election would be followed pogroms anti-catholics in the Soviet Block. Rather than to endanger the life of the Catholics in the USSR and elsewhere, the Siri cardinal would then have answered “Not accepto” (I do not accept papacy.)

Forever nothing said the Siri cardinal, either to confirm or to cancel the rumor, being satisfied to specify in an interview in 1986 “I am bound by the secrecy. This secrecy is horrible. I could write books on the various conclaves. It did without the very serious things there. But I can nothing say . ” It is advisable all the same to note that he pushed back the Sédévacantisme and openly recognized Jean XXIII and his successors like legitimate popes.

Several priests, as well as the father Malachi Martin, always claimed that they had been informed of the decision of Siri to change opinion and to give up papacy.

Its death

The first alarms on the health of the pope occur in November 1962. Starting from this date the health condition of the Pope holds the attention of the media because being very weak it is regularly victim of “crises” which weaken it days in days.

Reached of a Cancer of the stomach and prostate, it is victim of a Hémorragie the May 28th 1963. At this time Radio Vatican transmits each day the health condition of pope by indicating his failing temperature and its pulse. The pope, between clearness and unconsciousness, continues however to hold his role until the last moments. In resulting from a long anguish he dies the June 3rd 1963.

Places which bear its name

the Public garden Jean XXIII with Paris, beside Notre Dame.
the boulevard Jean XXIII in Lyon.

See too

List of the cardinals created by Jean XXIII

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