Pope John XXIII
Prologue:
Born in Italy in 1881, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli became a priest in 1904.
For the next 50 years, he served the Church as a priest, a bishop, and
a cardinal.
Then on October 28, 1958, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Roncalli
pope. He was the 23rd pope to take the name John.
It is now January 24, 1959. Pope John XXIII wanders the gardens of the
Vatican, as he does each day. A young man named Lou approaches him.
Pope John: And who
might you be?
Lou: My name is Lou, and I'm visiting Rome, your holiness. One
of the Swiss Guards let me into your garden when I told him why I'd come.
Pope John: And why have you come?
Lou: To find out what you plan to do as pope.
Pope John: And, what is it you want me to do?
Lou: Oh, I don't know. But I like what I hear about you! You're
making a famous name for yourself!
Pope John: Excuse my laughter! I wasn't laughing at you, my child,
but at the idea of being famous! That's something I'm not interested in
unless it helps the Church!
Lou: But you are famous!
Pope John: For doing what?
Lou: You walk in the garden. You visit convicts.
Pope John: Why wouldn't I! A relative of mine once spent time in
prison!
Lou: I heard that! And I also heard that you visit the sick in
the hospitals and the elderly in the nursing homes.
Pope John: Why would that make me famous?
Lou: Because popes don't usually do that!
Pope John: You ask, my child, what I hope to do for the People
of God. In the past two months, a strong intuition has come to me. I did
not expect this intuition when I became pope. But it comes like a flash
of light from heaven. I can feel the sweetness of that light in the depths
of my soul.
Lou: And what is the intuition, your holiness?
Pope John: I have not said the words aloud to anyone, but you come
here so simply with nothing to gain or lose and so I will tell you, Lou.
Lou: I will not tell anyone else, your holiness. I will just pray
for your intuition.
Pope John: The words that come to me are ecumenical council.
Lou: What does that mean, your holiness?
Pope John: An ecumenical council is a meeting of all the bishops
from all over the world. During its long history the Church has held only
20 councils.
Lou: When was the last one?
Pope John: The last one--Vatican I--began in 1869 and ended in
1870. So it's been nearly 100 years since all the bishops have come to
Rome.
Lou: What do they do at these meetings?
Pope John: Most of the time, we talk about false teachings--heresy
or other problems in the Church.
Lou: Is that what your council will talk about?
Pope John: Oh, no. I want the bishops to talk about how the Church
can meet the needs of the world today. I want us to find a way to counter
false doctrines by living the Gospels. And I want the Church to help the
poor and the outcasts in underdeveloped countries.
Lou: Why haven't you told this to anyone?
Pope John: Oh, my child, in this ancient Church some prophets of
gloom predict only the worse. They think we live in horrible times--the
worst of times. They want no change. They fear it.
Lou: And will the council bring change?
Pope John: I hope so! This century itself has brought great change.
Look at the signs of the time!
Lou: What signs?
Pope John: European countries let go of their colonies in Africa.
The working classes organize into unions. Men recognize women as their
equals. Oh, my child, these signs of the time tell me that the Holy Spirit
hovers near!
Lou: Is the Spirit the one who gave you the intuition?
Pope John: Yes, I think so. I believe the Spirit wants us to renew
the Church. It will be a new Pentecost!
Lou: You mean the council?
Pope John: Yes! Just as the Spirit inspired the apostles to go
out and teach and live the Gospels, so the Spirit will inspire today's
bishops.
Lou: And what about people like me? Will I have anything to do
with the council?
Pope John: I am going to ask people everywhere to pray for the
council so that the Spirit will renew his wonders in our time--in this
modern world.
Lou: But you haven't told anyone about this! Why?
Pope John: The intuition is growing. I can feel its light. The
Spirit is dawning in me. Now I must find the right time to announce the
council, so that the Spirit will rise like daybreak over the Church.
Lou: I heard you are meeting with 17 cardinals tomorrow at the
Basilica of St. Paul-Outside the Walls? Why not do it then?
Pope John: Aahh! You are right. Yes. I will tell them that Vatican
II will bring a great light to all Christian people. It will unite us.
Ultimately, it will bring peace.
Lou: Tomorrow then?
Pope John: Tomorrow! Thank you, Lou, for helping me talk this through.
You yourself are a gift from the Spirit!
Lou: Thank you, your holiness.
Pope John: Be outside the basilica tomorrow. You'll hear of the
announcement--the dawning of the age of the Holy Spirit!
Lou: I'll be there, your holiness. And I'll pray each day for the
council!
Pope John: Pray for me, too, my child, that the Spirit will work
through me. Now let me give you a blessing!
Epilogue
The next day--January 25, 1959--Pope John XXIII announced his intention
to hold Vatican II. The council opened in Rome on October 11, 1962. Bishops
met from 1962 through 1965. But, Pope John XXIII did not live to see the
end of the council. He died on June 3, 1963, of stomach cancer. But the
Spirit worked on! The council produced 16 documents that brought a new
spring, a new Pentecost, to the People of God. Just as Pope John had hoped!