Saint John Paul II : 1

Saint John Paul II 1978 - 2005.

On 16th October, 1978, KAROL WOJTYLA, Cardinal-Archbishop of Krakow, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John Paul, in tribute to his immediate predecessor. His election had not been expected and few people had ever heard of him.

Karol Wojtyla was born in the town of Wadowice, Poland on 18th May 1920. His studies for the priesthood were secret because of the Nazi occupation of Poland and he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Krakow in 1946. His early years as a priest were a mixture of further study and pastoral activity. At the early age of 38, Father Wojtyla was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958. He became Archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and three years later was elevated to the Sacred College by Pope Paul VI.

One paragraph cannot summarise the renown and breadth of the Papacy of John Paul II. Shall we say that it was not for no reason that, after his death, he was dubbed popularly, John Paul the Great. After several years of debilitating ill-health, Pope John Paul died on 2nd April, 2005 at the age of 84, and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, Beatified John Paul II on 1st May, 2011.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April 2014, John Paul II was canonised in Saint Peter's Square.

A useful but not exhaustive summary of his life may be found here.

This post includes some liturgical images of Pope John Paul II.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Pope Paul VI bestows the Ring on the newly-created Cardinal Wojtyla,
June 1967.

Cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave which
Elected Cardinal Wojtyla, October, 1978.

The Cardinal Protodeacon, Cardinal Pericle Felici, imposing the Pallium
on Pope John Paul II at the Mass Inaugurating his Pontificate
22nd October 1978.

The Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Ratzinger
paying his Homage to Pope John Paul II.
Mass to Inaugurate the Pontificate
22nd October 1978.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1985.
A magnificent cope in the Roman style especially made for
Pope John Paull II.

Pope John Paul II at the Holy Door of S' Peter's Basilica
at the Opening of the Special Jubilee Year of Redemption 1983.
Note the special form of Papal staff,
used on a few occasions by John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II pictured around 1985.

Pope John Paul at the Opening of the Holy Door
in S' Peter's Christmas, 1999.
The cope was specially made for the occasion and has,
thank God, never been seen again.

Pope John Paul pictured in 1979.
He is wearing a rich chasuble of deep green velvet.

Saint John XXIII : 2

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.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April, 2014, he was canonised by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

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.

Pope John XXIII being carried into S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

Pope John XXIII declaring Open the Second Vatican Council,
11th October, 1962.

Pope John XXIII during the Mass in S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

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.

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.

The interior of S' Peter's Basilica on the
Opening Day of the Second Vatican Council, 11th October, 1962.

The interior of S' Peter's Basilica
during one of the Sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

Pope John greeting the Faithful from the Central Loggia
of S' Peter's Basilica.

Pope John celebrating the Liturgy of S' John Chrysostom
in S' Peter's Basilica with Eastern Hierarchs.

Pope John greeting the Faithful from the window of the Papal Apartments
1963.

Pope John XXIII in the Sistine Chapel, 1963.

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.

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.

June 1963:  Pope John lying-in-state
before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica.

June 1963:  Pope John lying-in-state
before the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's Basilica.

Coat of Arms of Saint John XXIII.

On the iconastasis of an Eastern Orthodox Church
in Sophia (Bulgaria) is an icon of Saint John XXIII.
Monsignor Roncalli had been Apostolic Visitor to Bulgaria
1925-1935.

Saint John XXIII : 1

Saint John XXIII 1958 - 1963.

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.  His election had not been expected, since he was a man of advanced years (77).

Angelo Roncalli was born in humble circumstances in a village within the Diocese of Bergamo on 25th November 1881. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bergamo in 1904. Father Roncalli was consecrated bishop in 1925 and had a series of appointments as Papal Representative in foreign countries. In 1953 was elevated to the Sacred College by Pope Pius XII and appointed Patriarch of Venice.

Pope John is mostly remembered as the Pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council, which opened in the year 1962. John XXIII died in the following year and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000.

On a memorable Roman day, 27th April 2014, he was canonised by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square.

A useful summary of his life may be found here.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Father Roncalli photographed during World War 1 with his brothers.

Monsignor Roncalli, Papal Nuncio to France, celebrating Pontifical Mass.
This may be the only occasion that Roncalli wore "Gothic" vestments.

The contrast between Pope Pius XII and his Successor
Cardinal Roncalli is clearly illustrated in this photograph.

Cardinal Roncalli in the Vatican shortly before his Election.
At his side is Father Capovilla, still living at 98, and recently created a Cardinal.

Pope John XXIII receiving the Homage of the Cardinals after his Election
as Supreme Pontiff.

Pope John giving his Blessing on the central loggia of S' Peter's

after his Coronation,  November 1958.

Pope John giving his Blessing on the central loggia of S' Peter's
after his Coronation, November 1958.

At the Papal Mass on Coronation Day, Monsignor Dante,
Prefect of Pontifical Ceremonies, exchanges a quite word
with Pope John.  November 1958.

Pope John at his Cathedra in the Lateran Basilica.

Pope John at the Altar of the Confession in S' Peter's
with Monsignor Enrico Dante.

Solemn Papal Mass in S' Peter's Basilica offered by Pope John.

A Consistory in S' Peter's presided over by Pope John.

Part Two to follow.

The Day of the Four Popes

"We declare and define blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church." 

Aerial view of the vast crowd in and around Saint Peter's Square.

It is very unlikely that any reader of this Blog failed to observe, in one manner or another, the remarkable and historic occasion when the sanctity of two great Popes of the twentieth century was formally recognised by the Church. The previous Papal canonisation was in May 1954, when Pope Pius XII made the same declaration concerning his predecessor, Saint Pius X. 

Pope Benedict entering the Square
before the beginning of Mass.

The crowd of the Faithful was so large it stretched back along all the Via della Conciliazione and onto the adjacent bridges which span the Tiber. Approximately the same number of people - one million - thronged Rome in 1954.

The Occasion was also memorable in that a former Pope - Benedict XVI - concelebrated with his Successor: never before in the history of Holy Mother Church.

We are pleased to present some photographs of this historic Mass, the occasion of many Graces.

Photographs in the collections of Getty Images, Spaziani, Reuters.

The Incensation.

The Greek deacon kissing the Fisherman's Ring.

At the Offertory.

Before and after Mass, Pope Benedict was greeted by his Successor.

Leaving the Square quietly after the Mass, Pope Benedict was
cheered by Representatives of other Religions and other Christian denominations.

Paschal Greetings

The joy of the Resurrection renews the whole world: to all readers of this Blog, a most Blessed Easter.

Adjacent is a photograph of a new set of vestments in the Borromeon style, which is the first in a series of vestments to be made for a Monastic Community in Brazil.

The vestments are of a brocade woven from silk and metallic thread and are ornamented in the Roman manner.


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Click on the image for an enlarged view.