On 27 April the Roman Catholic Church will celebrate the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.
Pope John XXIII (1958 - 1963)
Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli at Sotto il Monte, Italy, in the Diocese of Bergamo on 25 November 1881. He was the fourth in a family of 14. He entered the Bergamo seminary in 1892 when he began the practice of making spiritual notes, which he continued until his death, and which have been gathered in his autobiography Journal of a Soul.
John XXIII was elected on 28 October 1958 following the death of Pope Pius XII. His pontificate lasted five years and he is remembered as gentle yet enterprising and courageous. His tenure was characterised by visits to the imprisoned and the sick.
During his term he brought together the Roman Synod, established the Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law and summoned the Second Vatican Council.
Pope John XXIII died on the evening of 3 June 1963.
Pope John Paul II (1978 - 2005)
John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojty³a on 18 May 1920. He was the youngest of three children.
The cardinals elected Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1978. Pope John Paul II was loved the world over from people both within and external to the Church. Many remember this Pope as a warm and charismatic personality who brought positive changes to the Catholic Church. His term was characterised by over 100 pastoral visits outside Italy and numerous ones within Italy. He held more meetings with leaders of nations and members of other churches than any of his predecessors.
Pope John Paul II's love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initated in 1994.
Pope John Paul II passed away on 2 April 2005. Following his death, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the normal five-year waiting period before beginning John Paul II's cause of beatification and canonisation would be waived.
