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? PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, June 8, 1963 John XXIII--Pope Of The People (N.C.W.C. NEWS SERVICE) His Holiness Pope JohnXXIII may be remembered by Church historians as the Pope of the Second Vatican Council, but to thousands of others throughout the world he will always be “II Papa Simpatico.’’ Pope John’s vigor in promo ting the affairs of the Church has amazed those who re garded him on his election to the papacy at age 77 as a “com promise’’ pope or a pope of “transition.” For he has brought to the agelessness of the Church the stamina associa ted with youth, and at the same time has captured the hearts of the multitude with his ex traordinary simplicity and warmth. Historians will recall that at an age when many men are expected to retire from pub lic life, Pope John did the following: convoked an ecu menical council, the first such council since 1870; upped the number of members in the Sa cred College of Cardinals to 87, the highest in history; canonized ten saints; issued 8 encyclicals; named the first Negro and Japanese cardinals; and appointed a Vatican secre tary of State for the first time in 14 years. But thousands of other people not so interested in statistics will remember his friendly smile; his ability to laugh— when the joke was on him; the occasions when he committed a faux pas—and quickly admit ted it; his surpriae visits to the poor, sick and imprisoned; his engaging manner of breaking papal protocol; and his readi ness to substitute praise for censure. And if you asked them to sum up their impression in a few words, they would exclaim, as so many have after an audience with Pope John, “He’s so nat ural!” Rare Combination Pope John had a dual nature in which the simplicity of a pea sant was combined with the dy namic drive of an administra tor. Tje worked as a farmer and as a diplomat and was as .much at home among rural peo ple as he was among heads of state. Pope John XXIII was born Pope’s parents Giovanni Bat tista and Maria Anna (Mazzola) Roncalli. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, Italy. He was the third of 13 children and the first son of Giovanni Battista Roncalli, a poor farmer, and of Maria Anna Mazzola. At the age of six he re ceived his first schooling from the parish priest of the near by village of Cervico. Five ydars later he entered the minor seminary at Bergamo. In his early years, Angelo Roncalli was a normal but un distinguished student, but even then he was noted for his amiable disposition and for his common sense. His growing talents were first recognized when at 16 he became dormi tory prefect of his class, a dis tinction reserved to students of scholastic merit. It was in this modest farm home in Sotto il Monte, 1 Under the Mountain” in Lombardy, Italy that the future Pope John XXIII was born, November 25, 1881. The Roncalli family has lived in Sotto il Monte, for more than 500 years. Birth certificate of Angelo Roncalli. In 1898 he received minor or ders and by 1900 his preuni versity- training- - was complete. By this time young Roncalli had found his way and had deve loped into a brilliant student. He won a scholarship to Rome’s major seminary, but his studies were interrupted for a year of military duty in 1901. He returned to Rome to continue in the seminary and was or dained a priest on August 10, 1904. Father Roncalli had earned his laureate in theology and had just started to earn a doc torate in canon law when Bishop Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi of Bergamo called him to be his personal secretary, a position he was to hold for the next 10 years. Scholar and Soldier It was during this time that he found a set of old documents pertaining to the diocesan visi tation of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan (1595- 1631), and decided to edit and publish them. He persisted in this work off and on until his elevation to the papacy, and the fifth and final volume of the project was published after he was pope. While serving as secretary to Bishop Radini-Tedeschi, from 1905 to 1914, he also taught Church history and apologetics at the Bergamo seminary. With the outbreak of World War I, Father Roncalli was re called to military service in June, 1915. He was at first a sergeant-major with the medical corps of the Italian Army, and in 1916 was assigned as a hospital chaplain. Years later he wrote that his mili tary service gave him great insight “in the understanding of life and the priestly apos- tolate.” After the war, Father Ron calli returned full time to the Bergamo seminary. He organi zed the first students' house in Italy at Bergamo. It pro vided free assistance to-middle class children attending public schools. He was also instru mental in founding the first organization of young Catholic women in the Bergamo diocese. In 1921, when Father Ron calli was 40, Pope Benedict XV called him to Rome to be president of the Italian Society for the Propagation of the Faith and to work in the Con gregation for the Propagation of the Faith. One day Father Roncalli de cided to spend a short vacation at the summer villa of the semi narians attending the Pontifical Urban College for the Propaga tion of the Faith. When he was ready to retire, the seminarians handed him a key and assured that his room was very cool and comfortable. ' Father Roncalli opened the door and found himself in a broom closet that had a small bed in it. He decided to go along with the joke, settled down on the bed and went to sleep quick ly- Father Roncalli’s task in the propagation congregation was to help coordinate the activities of national missionary societies throughout the world. He did considerable traveling in this post, visiting missionary so ciety centers in Italy, France Belgium and Holland. Administrator And Diplomat Father Roncalli became a monsignor on May 7, 1921. He demonstrated his administra tive ability in the tasks assign ed to him, and his intellectual talents by working as a pro fessor of patristics at the Roman Seminary. He was the chief organizer of the mission exhibit held in Rome during the 1925 Holy Year. On March 19, 1925, he was consecrated Titular Bishop of Areopolis with the personal title of archbishop and named Apos tolic Visitor to Bulgaria. It was the first time the Church had sent an official representation to that country since the 13th century. In his first sermon in Bul garia, Archbishop Roncalli evinced that long view toward Christian unity which was to become familiar in the discour ses and writings of Pope John XXIII. His role in Bulgaria was to protect the interests of the nation’s 50,000Catholics,to encourage the growth and development of the Church there and to represent the Holy See on a nondiplomatic level. When he was transferred from Bulgaria to Turkey 10 years later, he had visited every part of the country. The success of his mission in Bulgaria is shown by the fact that in 1932 Pope Pius XI was able to raise the Sofia office to the rank of an apostolic delegation. Archbishop Roncalli was reassigned as Apostolic Dele gate to Greece and Turkey on November 21, 1934. At the same time he was transferred from the titular diocese of Areopolis to the titular archdiocese of Me- sembria. He was appointed also as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Rite Vicariate Apos tolic of Constantinople. His tour of duty in Greece and Turkey was distinguished by his zeal in assisting the underfinanced Catholic schools and by his ability to create cordial rela tions between the Church and government circles. World War II was in progress then, and a great part of Arch bishop Roncallfs duties con sisted in directing works of charity made necessary by the tragedies of war. The Apostolic Delegation hummed with acti vity, much of it dealing with receiving and sending informa tion in collaboration with the Vatican’s Information Bureau on Prisoners of War and Refu gees. The Archbishop was so active in aiding Jewish refugees flee ing from Hitler’s Germany that his efforts were recalled years later by the Grand Rabbi of Israel, Dr. Isaac Halevy Herzog. When Cardinal Roncalli was elected Pope, the rabbi sent, a message in which he stated; “I am persuaded that your noble' faith in the highest values:,-; as shown during the time of the nazi atrocities, will guide you in your new and important tasks . . .” Unit Through Charity Archbishop Roncalli’s efforts in Greece in this same period created a climate in which the Catholics and Orthodox put aside their differences to work together in a humane effort directed against the threat of widescale starvation. It was through Archbishop Roncalli’s cooperation with Or thodox Archbishop Damaskinos that arrangements were made with the Vatican to bring in a shipment of 350,000 tons of wheat, thereby savingthousands from hunger. The project was accomplished through the com bined efforts of the Britist gov ernment, U. S. Catholics and Greeks living in exile. By 1944 Archbishop Ron calli’ s time in the ancient cra dle of Christianity had run out. Rome decided that the post for the 63-year-old Archbishop, now recognized for his knack of getting along well in diffi cult assignments, was in troublesome Europe. He was assigned as Apostolic Nuncio to Paris and arrived there on December 31, 1944. France had just been libera ted and there was strong resent ment among the nation’s new leaders that the Vatican repre sentation and some members of the Hierarchy had supported or at least tolerated the Vichy government. With superb tact the new Nuncio corrected what errors had been committed. He moved with ease among the na tion’s leaders and diplomats, and also visited 85 of France’s 87 dioceses. But his busy schedule some times made him forget his so cial obligations. One day Fran- cisque Gay, the postwar Deputy Premier, arrived at the nun- ★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Angelo Roncalli, seminarian (center), with two Jriends. In these early photos the Fu ture Pope John XXIII is shown as he appeared on his ordina tion day, August 10, 1904; in the uniform of a medical ser geant in the Italian army dur ing World War I in 1915 (the only time he wore a mustache); and as he looked on March 3, 1925, when Pope Pius XI rais ed him to the episcopate. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ciature and expressed his plea sure at being invited to dinner along with other VIPs. “Mon Dieu!” exclaimed Archbishop Roncalli, ‘ ‘I had forgotten.” He quickly talked the French official into helping him make preparations for dinner. “Here put on this apron,” he said, “You have to help me make polenta” ( a thick porridge of broth and meal). Prudence in Delicate Problem While in France the Arch bishop was confronted with the problem of worker priests, clergy who had gone into the working man’s world to labor and live alongside him in an effort to reduce the Church’s loss of souls in wholesale num bers. The Nuncio advised the Vati can to wait and move care fully in seeking a solution to the problem. Eventually, it be came necessary for the French' Bishops to issue orders for the modification of the move ment, but it was largely through the Nuncio’s tact and prudence that what could have been a tragic episode in the history of the Church in France was avoided. Later, after Archbishop Ron calli had become Pope, the priest worker movement was stopped by official order of the Congregation of the Holy Office on July 3, 1959. During his stay in France, Archbishop Roncalli was ap pointed by Pope Pius XII in 1951 as the Holy See’s first permanent observer at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi zation (UNESCO). OnNovember 29, 1952, he was named to be come a member of the College of Cardinals. The French government de corated him as a Commander of the Legion of Honor. At 71, with a full and satisfactory career behind him, the Arch bishop prepared to leave Paris for Rome and new work in the Church’s central administra tion in Rome. Patriarch of Venice A few days after the publica tion of the list of new cardinals, Archbishop Carlo Agostini, Patriarch of Venice, who had been named to receive the Red Hat, died. Cardinal Roncalli was named to succeed him pn Jan uary 15, 1953. He received the appointment to Venice on the same day that French President Vincent Auriol presented to him the red biretta of the cardi- nalate. Cardinal Roncalli took pos session of the Patriarchate of Venice on March 15, 1953, and immediately set to work. He renovated the ancient basilica and the patriarchal residence, personally visited every parish in the archdiocese, organized instructions in Christian doc trine on every level, convoked a synod and began construction of a new seminary. And all dur ing this activity, he was a stick ler for details. This charac teristic was evident even outside his administrative func tions. One of his newphews, now a chaplain in a parish in Italy, tells this story: “When he was Patriarch of Venice, after I had served his Mass, he told me he wanted to serve mine, and when I protested, he said to me, ‘No, no, I want to serve you myself because I want to see whether you know how to celebrate it.’’ Although he was now in a pas toral role, Cardinal Roncalli continued to be called upon to represent the Holy See. In Octo ber, 1954, he went as Papal Le gate to the Marian Year Con gress held in Deirut, Lebanon. In March, 1958, he was sent by Pope Pius XII to consecrate the new underground basilica of St. Pius X at Lourdes. After the death of Pius XII on October 9, 1958,. Cardinal Roncalli left for Rome, stating that he expected to return to Venice within 15 days. On Octo ber 25, he entered the 78th conclave of the Catholic Church along with 50 other cardinals. Whirlwind Start As Pope On October 28, 1958, he ap peared on the central balcony of the facade of St. Peter’s basilica to be presented to the world as the new Pope, taking the name of John. The day after his election, Pope John XXIII filled the office of Vatican Secretary of State, naming Monsignor Domenico Tardini to the post, which had been vacant 14 years. Within a month he announced his intention of creating 23 new cardinals, breaking a 400-year- old tradition which had limited their number to 70 and raising the total membership of the College of Cardinals to 75. Msgr. Tardini was amongthose named. Hardly three months of his pontificate had elapsed when he electrified the world by an nouncing his intention of sum moning an ecumenical council. Pope John gave immediate evidence that he would not reign from an ivory tower. On the afternoon of his election, he made an unannounced visit to the Vatican Radio station. After taking possession of his Cathe dral of St. John Lateran, he made visits outside the Vati can’ s walls to several of Rome’s major universities. On Christmas Day he captur ed the hearts of the humble by visiting several of the city’s hospitals, and on the following day he visited the city jail. On January 21, 1959, police were taken aback when, without informing them of his plans, he visited a home for retired and infirm priests accompanied only by two members of his household. Before the first year of his pontificate was completed, he also distributed Communion to the streetsweepers of Rome, and even left the Vatican to goto a church in Rome’s toughTras- tevere district to give Corn- continued On Page 3) When Archbishop Roncalli was elevated to the College of Cardinals late in 1952 the French Republic gave him a memo* rable farewell. Following a 400-year-old tradition President Vincent Aurioi placed the red biretta on the Nuncio's head. Significant Dates Life Of John XXIII The following are significant dates in the life and ca reer of His Holiness Pope John XXIII: 1881, November 25; Born as Angelo Giuseppee Roncalli in Sotto il Monte in the province and Diocese of Ber gamo. The third of 13 children of Giovanni and Maria Anna Roncalli and their first son. 1892: Entered minor seminary at Bergamo. 1898: Received minor orders. 1900: Began theological studies at Cerasola College in Rome. 1901: Studies interrupted by one year of military service. 1904, August 10: Ordained in the Church of Santa Maria in Monte Santo. 1905-1914: Served as private secretary to Bishop Giacomo Radini-Tedeschi of Bergamo and as professor of Church history, apologetics and patrology at the Bergamo seminary. 1915: Recalled to military service as a private in the medical corps of the Italian Army. Promoted to sergeant- major and then to a chaplaincy with the rank of lieutenant. 1918-1920: Returned to teaching at Bergamo seminary. 1921, May 7: Named monsignor (domestic prelate) by Pope Benedict XV, and president of the Italian Society for the Propagation of the Faith. 1925: Organized the Mission Exhibit in Rome for the 1925 Holy Year. 1925, March 19; Consecrated as Titular Bishop of Areo polis with the personal title of archbishop and named Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria. 1931, October 16; Appointed first Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria. 1934, November 21: Named Apostolic Delegate to Greece and Turkey and appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Rite Vicariate Apostolic of Constantinople. 1944, December 22: Appointed by Pope Pius XII as Aposto lic Nuncio to France. 1951, June: Named by Pius XII as the Holy See’s first permanent observer at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 1952, November 29: Named to Sacred College of Cardinals. 1953, January 15: Appointed as Patriarch of Venice. 1954, October: Served as Papal Legate to the Marian Year Congress in Beirut, Lebanon. 1958, March 25: Went to Lourdes, on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of St. Bernadette there, to conse crate the underground Basilica of St. Pius X. 1958, October 25: Entered 78th conclave to elect a pope. 1958, October 28: Elected as pope. Took name of John XXIII. 1958, November 4: Crowned as pope in St. Peter’s basilica. 1958, December 15: Created 21 new cardinals and named two more “in secret.” 1959, January 26: Announced intention to summon an ecumenical council. 1959, April 12: Canonized SS. Charles of Sezze and Joa- quina de Vedruna de Mas. 1959, June 29; Issued his first encyclical, "Ad Petri Cathedram.” 1959, August 1: Issued his second encyclical, "Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia.” 1959, Setember 26: Issued his third encyclical, "Grata Recordatio.” 1959, October 11: Presided at centenary celebrations at the North American College in Rome. 1959, November 28: Issued his fourth encyclical, "Princeps Pastorum.” 1959, December 14: Created eight new cardinals. 1960, March 28: Created seven new cardinals, bringing college of cardinals to record total of 85 members. 1960, May: Consecrated 14 missionary bishops in St. Peter’s basilica. 1960, May 27: Canonized Gregory Barbarigo. 1960, June 12: Canonized John de Ribera. 1961, Jan. 16: Created four new cardinals. 1961, May 11: Canonized Bertilla Boscardin. 1961, July 14: Issued his fifth encyclical. "Mater et Magis tral’ 1961, Sept. 29; Issued Apostolic Letter on the Rosary. 1961, Nov. 11: Issued his sixth encyclical, Aeterna Dei Sapientia (The Eternal Wisdom of God). 1962, Mar. 19: Created ten new cardinals, bringing the college of Cardinals to a new record total of 87 members. 1962, May 2: Canonized Blessed Martin de Porres, Negro Dominican brother. 1962, July 1: Issued his seventh encyclical, Paenitentiam Agere (Practice of Penance by the World). 1962, Oct. 11: Opened Second Vatican Council In Rome. 1962, Dec. 9: Canonized Blessed Francis Maria Croese, Blessed Peter Eymard and Blessed Antonio Pucci. 1963, Jan. 20: Canonized Blessed Vincent Palotti. 1963, Apr. 11: Issued encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth).