Blessed John XXIII
Blessed John XXIII, who will be made a saint April 27, is remembered by many for his warmth, simplicity, social conscience and sense of humor. Pope Francis, who will canonize "the Good Pope," recalled his predecessor as being holy, patient and a man of courage, especially by calling the Second Vatican Council. Blessed John is pictured in an undated photo.
POPE JOHN XXIII CARRIED ON CHAIR DURING OPENING SESSION OF SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
Pope John XXIII signs encyclical 'Pacem in Terris' in 1963
Pope John XXIII signs his encyclical "Peace on Earth" ("Pacem in Terris") at the Vatican in this 1963 file photo. Considered a highlight in Catholic social teaching, the encyclical addresses universal rights and relations between states. The document marks its 50th anniversary April 11, the date of its issue. (CNS photo)
POPE JOHN XXIII CARRIED ON CHAIR DURING OPENING SESSION OF SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
Pope John XXIII leads the opening session of the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 11, 1962. The council's four sessions and its 16 landmark documents modernized the liturgy, renewed the priesthood and religious life, enhanced the role of lay Catholics, opened dialogue with other churches and non-Christians, and identified the church as the "people of God" attuned to the problems and hopes of the world. The 50th anniversary of the opening of the council will be marked by Pope Benedict XVI when he kicks off the Year of Faith with an Oct. 11 Mass in St. Peter's Square. (CNS photo/L'Osse)
Painting of Blessed John XXIII hangs in museum in his Italian birthplace
POPE JOHN XXIII SEEN VISITING VATICAN RADIO IN UNDATED PHOTO
Pope John XXIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963, is seen visiting Vatican Radio in this undated photo. A special exhibit opened Feb. 10 at the Vatican Museums celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vatican Radio. (CNS photo/Vatican Radio)
Blessed John XXIII prays after his election in 1958
Blessed John XXIII prays after his election in 1958 at the Vatican. At the age of 76 he was the oldest pope to be elected in more than 200 years.
Pope John XXIII pictured in Vatican Gardens
Blessed John XXIII is pictured in the Vatican Gardens with the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the background in this undated photo. Blessed John, who convened the Second Vatican Council, will be canonized along with Blessed John Paul II April 27 at the Vatican. (CNS photo)
MSGR. CAPOVILLA, PERSONAL SECRETARY OF POPE JOHN XXIII ASSISTS PONTIFF
Msgr. Loris Capovilla assists Pope John XXIII during a meeting with ambassadors at the Vatican in this undated photo. Archbishop Capovilla, now 96, was the pope's personal secretary. (CNS photo)
Body of Blessed John XXIII lies in state at Vatican in 1963
The body of Blessed John XXIII lies in state at the Vatican June 4, 1963, the day after he died of cancer. (CNS) (March 24, 2014)
BLESSED JOHN XXIII SHOWN GREETING HIS MOTHER IN STATUE SET AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
Blessed John XXII is shown greeting his mother in this statue on the site where he was born in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Italy. Photo taken Feb. 21, 2012. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (June 8, 2012)
June 1963 funeral of Pope John XXIII in St. Peter's Square.
The body of blessed John XXIII is seen during his June 1963 funeral in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. (CNS photo)
FILE PHOTO OF POPE JOHN XXIII BLESSING CADILLAC
Pope John XXIII blesses a Cadillac in the Courtyard of St. Damaso at the Vatican in this March 16, 1960, file photo. The Cadillac, which was donated by alumni of the University of Notre Dame, was eventually given away or sold. (CNS photo)
EDWARD M. KENNEDY WITH POPE JOHN XXIII AT VATICAN
Edward M. Kennedy is pictured with Pope John XXIII at the Vatican in this 1961 photo. In 1962, at age 30, Kennedy was first elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the unexpired term of his brother John F. Kennedy after he was elected president. Kennedy died at his Cape Cod, Mass., home late Aug. 25. He was 77. (CNS file photo)
POPE JOHN XXIII IN PRAYER BEFORE ANNOUNCING PLAN TO CONVOKE VATICAN II
POPE JOHN XXIII IN PRAYER BEFORE ANNOUNCING PLAN TO CONVOKE VATICAN II
POPE JOHN XXIII PICTURED IN UNDATED PHOTO
POPE JOHN XXIII PICTURED IN UNDATED PHOTO
People visit tomb of Blessed John XXIII in St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican
Mosaic on wall of Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome shows Blessed John XXIII
A mosaic on the wall of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome shows Blessed John XXIII, who convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962. Blessed John will be canonized along with Blessed John Paul II April 27 at the Vatican. (CNS photo/ANSA, EPA)
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in undated photo
Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, is pictured in 1926, the year after he was ordained to the episcopacy. Blessed John XXIII, who convened the Second Vatican Council, will be canonized along with Blessed John Paul II April 2 7 at the Vatican. (CNS photo/courtesy of Archbishop Loris Capovilla)
RELICS OF JOHN XXIII SET BELOW PAINTING OF POPE IN CHAPEL AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
Relics of Blessed John XXIII are seen at the foot of a painting of the pope in the seminary chapel located at his birthplace in Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII, Italy. Photo taken Feb. 21, 2012. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Blessed John XXIII seen on stamp to be released by Vatican
Blessed John XXIII is seen on a 70-cent stamp the Vatican will release March 21. The late pope will be canonized April 27. (CNS photo courtesy of the Vatican stamp and coin office)
Blessed John XXIII pictured in undated photo
Blessed John XXIII pictured in undated photo
Official portrait of Blessed John XXIII
Official portrait of Blessed John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in 1926
Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in 1926
Photo Story: John XXIII
April 25, 2014
Blessed John XXIII
POPE JOHN XXIII CARRIED ON CHAIR DURING OPENING SESSION OF SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
Pope John XXIII signs encyclical 'Pacem in Terris' in 1963
POPE JOHN XXIII CARRIED ON CHAIR DURING OPENING SESSION OF SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
Painting of Blessed John XXIII hangs in museum in his Italian birthplace
POPE JOHN XXIII SEEN VISITING VATICAN RADIO IN UNDATED PHOTO
Blessed John XXIII prays after his election in 1958
Pope John XXIII pictured in Vatican Gardens
MSGR. CAPOVILLA, PERSONAL SECRETARY OF POPE JOHN XXIII ASSISTS PONTIFF
Body of Blessed John XXIII lies in state at Vatican in 1963
BLESSED JOHN XXIII SHOWN GREETING HIS MOTHER IN STATUE SET AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
June 1963 funeral of Pope John XXIII in St. Peter's Square.
FILE PHOTO OF POPE JOHN XXIII BLESSING CADILLAC
EDWARD M. KENNEDY WITH POPE JOHN XXIII AT VATICAN
POPE JOHN XXIII IN PRAYER BEFORE ANNOUNCING PLAN TO CONVOKE VATICAN II
POPE JOHN XXIII PICTURED IN UNDATED PHOTO
People visit tomb of Blessed John XXIII in St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican
Mosaic on wall of Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome shows Blessed John XXIII
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in undated photo
RELICS OF JOHN XXIII SET BELOW PAINTING OF POPE IN CHAPEL AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
Blessed John XXIII seen on stamp to be released by Vatican
Blessed John XXIII pictured in undated photo
Official portrait of Blessed John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in 1926