On 28th October, 1958, ANGELO GIUSEPPE RONCALLI, Cardinal-Patriarch of Venice, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John XXIII.
Pope John is mostly remembered as the Pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council, which opened in the year 1962, photographs from which are shewn in this post. John XXIII died on 3rd June 1963 and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000.
Click on the images for an enlarged view.
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| Pope John XXIII being carried through S' Peter's Square on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. The Pope is wearing the mitre of his predecessor, Benedict XV. |
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| Pope John XXIII being carried into S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. |
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| Pope John XXIII declaring Open the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. |
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| Pope John XXIII during the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. |
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| Pope John XXIII at the conclusion of the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. The Pope is using the ferula or staff of Pope Pius IX. |
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| Pope John XXIII giving the Blessing at the conclusion of the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. The Pope is using the ferula or staff of Pope Pius IX which, in recent years has been used again by Pope Benedict. |
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| The interior of S' Peter's Basilica on the Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962. |
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| The interior of S' Peter's Basilica during one of the Sessions of the Second Vatican Council. |
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| Pope John greeting the Faithful from the Central Loggia of S' Peter's Basilica. |
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| Pope John celebrating the Liturgy of S' John Chrysostom in S' Peter's Basilica with Eastern Hierarchs. |
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| Pope John greeting the Faithful from the window of the Papal Apartments 1963. |
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| Pope John XXIII in the Sistine Chapel, 1963. |
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| A vast crowd of the Faithful entering S' Peter's to venerate the mortal remains of Pope John XXIII. The basilica is still arranged with seating for the Sessions of the Second Vatican Council. |
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| A remarkable photograph of Pope John lying-in-state before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica. This photograph depicts the manner in which the Popes were vested for burial: namely in red Mass vestments. In addition, the Pope was buried wearing the Papal fanon, the pallium and a cloth gold mitre. |
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| June 1963: Pope John lying-in-state before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica. |
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| June 1963: Pope John lying-in-state before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica. |
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| Coat of Arms of Blessed John XXIII. |
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| On the iconastasis of an Eastern Orthodox Church in Sophia (Bulgaria) is an icon of Blessed John XXIII. Monsignor Roncalli had been Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria 1925-1935. |