Regarded as a transitional or stop gap pope when we was elected at the age of 77 in 1958, John proved transitional in quite an unexpected way. Through his calling of the 2nd Vatican Council, he steered the Church through transition from the European Church begun by St.Paul’s mission to the gentiles, into the age of being truly universal.

As a pope he refused to change his easy going ways to the aloof manners expected of popes and was soon hugely popular in Rome, where he walked about freely and visited the sick and prisoners. The wider world gradually realized that something rather remarkable was happening to the papacy.

The sweeping changes of Vatican 2 are still taking effect today. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II who took on two names to express his desire to carry on the work of “good Pope John”.