THE GHOST IN THIS STORY MORE LOVABLE THAN CASPER

[ED CONRAD]

Pope John XXIII, who died on June 3, 1963, will be
proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis at the Vatican
on Sunday.
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Sadly, it has taken more than 50 years for the Catholic
Church to realize it had a REAL SAINT in its midst.
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When Pope John XXIII's tomb and coffin were opened
in 2001, his body was found to be "incorrupt" despite
the passage of 38 years since his death.
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Best of all, there was still the semblance of
a smile on his face.
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"It was as if he died yesterday" said Virgilio Cardinal
Noe, who witnessed the opening of the tomb and the
casket.
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Pope John's beloved memory -- and his incredible
humility -- will never be forgotten by those who
were around when he was the apple of at least
a billion people's eye.
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http://edconrad.com/lifeafterdeath/index_files/body_data/popejail2.jpg
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Convicts are on their knees and applauding Pope John
as he visits a prison in Rome on Christmas Day 1958,
his very first Christmas as pope.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXcGdiv9-2M
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Pope John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) was born on
Nov. 25, 1881 and served as pontiff from Oct. 28, 1958
until his death from a lingering illness of cancer 4 1/2
years later.
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He was the fourth of 14 children born to a family of poor
sharecroppers who lived in a village in Lombardy, Italy.
He was ordained a priest in 1904 and served in various
posts including appointments as a papal nuncio in France
and a delegate to Bulgaria and Greece. Pope Pius XII
appointed him a cardinal in 1953.
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Angelo Roncalli was elected pope on Oct. 28, 1958 at the age
of 76 after 11 ballots. No one could have been more surprised
than Roncalli himself, who had traveled by train to Rome and
had purchased an advance ticket for the long journey back home.

He was the first pope to take the pontifical name of "John"
in more than 500 years.

Pope John surprised those who expected him to be a "caretaker"
pope by calling the historic Second Vatican Council (1962-65)
-- to bring all men together -- those of all faiths and even atheists.
The first session opened on Oct. 11, 1962 but, sadly, he didn't'
live to see it to completion.

Perhaps the best memory of the very first day of the council
came when leaders of all different religions from around
the world were seated at tables waiting for Pope John to enter
the ballroom and take his seat on an elevated throne.

Pope John wanted none of that, his humility letting him know
that he certainly was no better than anyone else in the gathering.
Consequently, he didn't take a seat on his throne but, instead,
pent the entire session seated at a table with his many guests.
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< THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
< ( OR, SADLY: The Miracle the Vatican Never Mentions)
< http://www.edconrad.org