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Pope Paul VI (Latin: Paulus PP. VI; Italian: Paolo VI), born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 263rd Pope from 1963 until his death in 1978.[1] Paul was a spiritual leader and the head of the church bureaucracy.[2] Pope Benedict XVI declared in 2012 that Paul had lived “a life of heroic virtue.” Two years later he was beatified by Pope Francis. He was canonized by the same pope in October 2018.[3]
Saint Pope Paul VI | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Papacy began | June 21, 1963 |
| Papacy ended | August 6, 1978 |
| Predecessor | Pope John XXIII |
| Successor | Pope John Paul I |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini |
| Born | September 26, 1897 Concesio, Italy |
| Died | August 6, 1978 Castel Gandolfo, Italy |
| Motto | Cum Ipso in Monte (With Him on the mount) In Nomine Domini (In the name of the Lord) |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | September, 26 |
| Beatified | October 19, 2014 St. Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis |
| Canonized | October 14, 2018 St. Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis |
| Other popes named Paul | |
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Montini was born in Concesio. That is near Brescia in northern Italy. His father was editor of a Roman Catholic newspaper.[4] He received degrees in civil and canon law, theology and philosophy.[5]
Montini was ordained and celebrated his first mass in 1920.[4] He worked in the Vatican diplomatic corps.[5] During World War II, he was in charge of the Vatican's work for refugees and prisoners of war.[5] He was made Archbishop of Milan in 1954.[5] Pope John XXIII made Montini a cardinal in 1958.[4]
Cardinal Montini was elected Pope in 1963.[4] Pope Paul continued the Second Vatican Council which was begun by Pope John XXIII.[6] His first encyclical is the only one in the Vatican archives which is in the handwriting of the pope who delivered it.[7] Paul VI was known as the "pilgrim" pope for his numerous travels.[8] He was the first pope to fly in an airplane.[9]
In 1964, Paul was the first pope to travel from Rome to the Holy Land.[5] He flew first to Amman in Jordan. Then he traveled by car to Jerusalem.[10] In 1970, the pope visited Australia, the Phillipines,[11] and Indonesia.[12] In 1975, Paul declared 1975 to be a "jubilee" year with themes of renewal and reconciliation.[13]
In 1978, Prime Minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped in Rome. Pope Paul VI made an offer to exchange his life for Moro's.[14] The offer was not accepted. Moro was killed 55 days later.[15]
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At the age of 80, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, from a heart attack.[16]
The Pope Paul VI Hall is the modern building in which mass papal audiences are held.[17]
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