Living Pope John XXIII’s Vision

October 2, 2026: It is nothing less than a challenge to live in the footsteps of Saint Pope John XXIII, whose focus was peace on earth

On 11 October 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the historic Second Vatican Council fully convinced that it was time to “throw open the windows of the church and let the fresh air of the spirit blow through.” In a path-breaking opening address to the historic Council, he said, “They are ever more deeply convinced of the paramount dignity of the human person and of his perfections, as well as of the duties which that implies. Even more important, experience has taught men that violence inflicted on others, the might of arms, and political domination are of no help at all in finding a happy solution to the grave problems which afflict them… She opens the fountain of her life-giving doctrine which allows men, enlightened by the light of Christ, to understand well what they really are, what their lofty dignity and their purpose are, and, finally, through her children, she spreads everywhere the fullness of Christian charity, than which nothing is more effective in eradicating the seeds of discord, nothing more efficacious in promoting concord, just peace, and the brotherly unity of all.”

He was convinced that true faith was about witness, standing up for truth, justice and peace.

Pope John XXIII was elected Pontiff on 28 October 1958. He was elected on the twelfth ballot at the age of 76 years. No one expected him to initiate a revolution in the Church. On 27 April 2014, when he was canonized (together with Pope John Paul II), Pope Francis said, “In convening the (Second Vatican) Council, John XXIII showed an exquisite openness to the Holy Spirit. He let himself be led, and he was for the church a pastor, a servant-leader. This was his great service to the church; he was the Pope of openness to the Spirit.”

The feast day of a Saint in the Catholic Church is traditionally kept on the anniversary of the death (birth in heaven) of that person; in some rare cases, on their birth anniversary. In exceptional cases, the Church assigns another day. It is significant, therefore, that the Catholic Church celebrates every year the Feast of St. Pope John XXIII on 11 October, the day he began the Vatican Council. A memorable day indeed both for the Church and the world.

In the midst of the Council, Pope John XXIII shook the foundations of the earth on 11 April 1963, with his incisive and far-sighted encyclical ‘Pacem in Terris’ (Peace on Earth). This was the last encyclical he gave to the Church; it was also the very first one by any Pope to be addressed “to all men of goodwill”. The encyclical was written in the context of the turbulence and conflict which had seized several parts of the world: The Cold War, the erection of the Berlin Wall, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

‘Pacem in Terris’ has a more elaborate title, “On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Freedom”. The four pillars: Truth, Justice, Charity and Freedom are, in a sense, the sum and substance of the encyclical. It observes that real peace needs to be based on an order "founded on truth, built according to justice, vivified and integrated by charity, and put into practice in freedom".

The very realities to which Pacem in Terris drew attention are painfully prevalent in our world today. War (in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine), violence (Manipur), hate, and ethnic and religious strife have destroyed life and property in several parts of the world; millions have sought refuge in other countries, and many more are internally displaced; consumerism and the ills of globalisation, the lack of concern and care for our common home, have all fragmented the earth as never before. The nuclear threat continues to loom large.

Pope Francis, and now Pope Leo XIV, have consistently insisted that the directives of Vatican II and the vision Pope John XXIII gave the Church be internalised and actualised by all. A tall order indeed! Even the Synodal process of communion, participation and mission leaves much to be desired. Pope John XXIII did usher in a revolution. The challenge then is to live his vision today.

Usually, the feast of a saint falls on his/her death anniversary, and in rare cases, birth anniversary. But the Feast of St. Pope John XXIII is celebrated on October 11, the day he began the Second Vatican Council.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ