John XXIII

Pope John XXIII (1881-1963) was made cardinal and then patriarch of Venice in 1953. At age 77 he was elected to become Pope after the death of Pius XII in 1958. In 1959, the new Pope announced the convening of the Second Vatican Council to bring the religious, social, and liturgical life of the church into the 20th century. He died before the extraordinary work of Vatican II was completed.