John XXIII

A new edition to mark the beatification of Pope John XXIIIAngelo Roncalli was elected pope in 1958 and in four and a half years transformed the Roman Catholic Church. He summoned the Second Vatican Council and put in hand a major revision of the Code of Canon Law. By his personality, teaching, and initiatives with world leaders he gave the papacy a new image and set before the Catholic Church a new version of its mission to the world.