Pope Saint Paul VI

Saint Paul VI was the pope at the time that I was born, so he was my first pope, although I don't remember being aware of anything to do with the papacy until the conclave that elected John Paul I. 

Born Giovanni Battista Montini in 1897 in Northern Italy, he was educated primarily at hoe because of poor health. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1920 and was then sent by his bishop to Rome for advanced studies. He was eventually recruited for the Vatican diplomatic service. He was assigned to the staff of the apostolic nunciature in Warsaw, but ill health brought him back to Rome, where he worked at the Vatican Secretariate of State. He remained there in posts of increasing importance for more than 30 years. He never had an assignment as a parish priest.

Montini was named a Cardinal by Pope John XXIII in 1958. As a Cardinal, he took part in the first part of the Second Vatican Council, though he did not engage much in the floor debates. The first period of the council adjourned in December 1962, having made little progress. When John XXIII died the following June, Cardinal Montini was chosen to succeed him. He chose the name Paul VI in honor of Paul the Apostle. The day after his election he announced that the council would continue under his pontificate and that it would be his "chief work."

Pope Paul VI was the last pope to have a coronation (Pope John Paul I substituted an inauguration). He was the first to visit six continents, the first to travel by airplane, visit the Holy Land on pilgrimage and the first in a century to travel outside of Italy. He earned the nickname "the Pilgrim Pope."

Paul VI enacted many reforms of the papacy and the Church, developed Catholic theology and wrote many encyclicals. He may be best remembered for the encyclical Humanae vitae (Of human life), which was prophetic in many ways.

On Sunday, August 6, 1978, the pope, having been experiencing breathing problems, participated in Sunday Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration from his bed. After receiving communion, he suffered a massive heart attack. He lived for three more hours before entering into his final rest. He had been pope for 15 years. His feast day is May 29.

Pope Saint Paul VI, pray for us.