Remembering Good Pope John

He always tried to be a saint. And he made it

Joseph A. Komonchak June 22, 2004 - 4:17am

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was not an ambitious man. Anyone who might be tempted to think him a careerist would be forced to conclude that he was a singularly inept one. Not only did he not choose or even actively seek the steps that defined his journey to the papacy, he was not remarkably successful in most of them, at least not in the judgment of many of his superiors. He went where he was told and did what he was commanded: secretary to...

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Topics: 
Pope John Paul II

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About the Author

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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