Saint of the Day: St John XXIII (11 October)

A saint remembered on 11 October

On Sunday, 11 October 2026, the Church celebrates the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday’s celebration takes precedence, but 11 October is also the day associated with St John XXIII, remembered affectionately as the “Good Pope”.

His example offers a quiet reassurance: holiness does not require a hard heart or a fearful spirit. It can be expressed through warmth, patient listening and the courage to follow God into unfamiliar places.

From a farming family to the priesthood

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born on 25 November 1881 in Sotto il Monte, a village in northern Italy. He grew up in a large farming family, where faith was woven into ordinary life.

Ordained a priest in 1904, he served as secretary to the Bishop of Bergamo and taught in the seminary. During the First World War, he served as a medical orderly and military chaplain, encountering suffering far removed from the quiet of a classroom.

These years helped form a priest attentive to people as they really were: wounded, hopeful, frightened and in need of mercy. His spiritual writings reveal a lifelong concern with prayer, humility and surrender to God.

Learning to meet people with kindness

Roncalli later represented the Holy See in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece, and then in France. These responsibilities brought him into contact with Orthodox Christians, Muslims and people whose experiences differed greatly from his own.

During the Second World War, he used his diplomatic position to help Jews threatened by Nazi persecution. His life reminds us that respect for human dignity must become practical action, especially when our neighbours are in danger.

In 1953, he became Patriarch of Venice and a cardinal. Five years later, at the age of 76, he was elected pope, taking the name John XXIII.

A surprising act of trust

Many expected an older pope to lead a short, uneventful pontificate. Instead, John XXIII called the Second Vatican Council, which opened on 11 October 1962. This anniversary explains why he is remembered on 11 October rather than on the date of his death.

He wanted the Church to communicate the enduring truth of the Gospel more effectively in a changing world. His vision was not to discard the faith, but to help people encounter its riches afresh.

In 1963, his encyclical Pacem in Terris addressed peace, human dignity, rights and responsibilities. Addressed also to all people of goodwill, it invited a world overshadowed by nuclear danger to seek peace founded on truth, justice, charity and freedom.

John XXIII died on 3 June 1963. Pope Francis canonised him on 27 April 2014.

Why he matters today

In an age of anxious headlines and bitter divisions, St John XXIII shows that gentleness need not mean weakness. We can remain faithful to Christ while listening carefully, speaking respectfully and recognising the dignity of those who disagree with us.

His example invites us to begin close to home: a patient conversation, a kindness offered without applause, a prayer before responding in anger. Trust in God makes room for courage without cruelty.

A prayer for his intercession

St John XXIII, pray for us that we may love Christ and his Church with humble, joyful hearts. Help us to seek peace without neglecting truth, to welcome our neighbours with kindness, and to trust God when the way ahead is uncertain. Ask the Lord to make our homes places of patience and our lives instruments of his mercy. Amen.