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John XXIII

John XXIII was pope from 1958 to 1963 who, in 1959, opened the sealed Third Secret of Fatima envelope at Castel Gandolfo and decided not to publish its contents, a decision his successors maintained and one later discussed at length by Vatican insiders and Fatima researchers.

Patriarch of Venice · Pope of the Catholic Church (1958-1963)

According to The Fatima Secret, the Prophecy of the Popes tradition described John XXIII, pope from 1958 to 1963, by the epithet “Pastor et nauta” (“shepherd and seafarer”).¹ He came from the shepherds’ village of Italy, Bergamo, Sotto il Monte and herded sheep as a boy,² and before his election he had served as patriarch of Venice Italy.³ On 1959-01-25, before he had read the Third Secret of Fatima, he announced his intention to convene an ecumenical council.⁴

The person responsible for keeping the Third Secret envelope safe had earlier asked John XXIII whether he wished to see it; he replied that he would let them know when to bring it to him.⁵ On 1959-08-17, at Castel Gandolfo Italy, the pope’s summer residence, John XXIII’s opening of the Third Secret envelope began when he received a messenger from Rome Italy asking whether he had brought the document.⁶ Father Paul Philippe delivered the sealed envelope to him there, its seal still intact.⁷⁸ He waited four days, until Friday, 1959-08-21, before breaking the seal,⁹ and read the text in a closed room in the presence only of a Vatican interpreter and his confessor, Monsignor Alfredo Cavagna.¹⁰ He read slowly and with trembling hands, needing the interpreter’s help since he did not speak Portuguese,¹¹ and as he took in its content his face turned white as chalk.¹² According to The Fatima Secret, some of those closest to him reported that he almost fainted with horror when he opened it.¹³ The seal had in fact been broken six months before the 1960 announcement that the secret would not be published.¹⁴

Three men then discussed the secret’s contents until late at night; John XXIII decided he could not and would not publish it, certain it did not concern his own papal reign.¹⁵ He placed Lúcia (Fatima seer)’s letter back in its envelope along with a personal note explaining his reasoning, told his closest advisors of its contents and his decision, and made them all swear to secrecy.¹⁶ He kept the Fatima message on his desk for the rest of his time in office, until his death on 1963-06-03.¹⁷ Monsignor Loris Capovilla later recalled that when Paul VI asked him what John XXIII’s opinion had been, he could only answer that the decision had been “I will leave it to my successors”, to which Paul VI replied, “I shall do that too."¹⁸ On 1977-05-13, Vatican Radio announced that neither John XXIII nor Paul VI considered it right to reveal the Third Secret to the world at large.¹⁹ In total, five popes, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II, kept the secret under lock and key.²⁰ Unlike his predecessor, who had left the envelope unopened out of respect for a mistakenly interpreted 1960 date, John XXIII went to Castel Gandolfo in August 1959 for his summer holiday and decided to open it.²¹ After his own papacy, three further popes followed: Paul VI (1963-1978), John Paul I (1978), and John Paul II, pope since 1978.²² When John XXIII died, Conchita (Garabandal seer) told her mother there would be three more popes.²³

Rome was preparing for the Second Vatican Council in early 1959, and John XXIII said he did not want to listen to “prophets of doom."²⁴ Vatican II opened on 1962-10-11 with an address in which he again raised his voice against the prophets of doom who forever proclaimed that the end of the world stood before them;²⁵ by that point he had already read Lúcia’s Third Secret.²⁶ He trembled on reading it and, rather than spread fear, wanted to instil a state of optimism in the Church ahead of the council.²⁷ Early in 1959 a senior Vatican official had suggested that Sister Lúcia be allowed to address the world by radio, but John XXIII declined;²⁸ according to The Fatima Secret, his private secretary later wrote that it seemed he personally preferred her to remain silent.²⁹ At the Fatima 2000 Conference (1995-11), Malachi Martin, formerly secretary to Bea (Cardinal), recalled that the cardinal was shaken and annoyed that John XXIII would not publish the secret.³⁰ Martin also said that John XXIII later told him the secret’s contents himself.³¹ Father José Geraldes Freire, an authority on Fatima, said that John XXIII gave the message great importance, and that some of his major decisions, otherwise found inexplicable, were influenced by it.³² On 1962-10-25, during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962-10), John XXIII appealed to the world, pleading for peace;³³ Michael Hesemann has said it remains unknown whether the Fatima message played any part in the crisis’s diplomacy.³⁴

A separate account states that part of the Fatima message was not due to be revealed until 1960, when John XXIII opened the sealed envelope without publishing the secret.³⁵ Jacques Vallée said a source he trusted received a report from one of John XXIII’s secretaries, describing how senior figures were brought into the pope’s presence for that 1960 opening.³⁶ Vallée said that, according to this account, the cardinals left the pope’s office with looks of deep horror on their faces, and one prelate approached by the secretary gently pushed him aside and walked on with the expression of someone who had seen a ghost.³⁷ Vallée said this indirect information sheds light on the reactions of senior Catholic Church officials to the prophecy, though not necessarily on its actual contents.³⁸

According to a message purportedly from UMMO, John XXIII was named among a group of public figures said to belong to an extraterrestrial expeditionary presence on Earth, alongside Bertrand Russell, Ernesto (Che) Guevara, Helder Camara, Emmanuel Mounier, and Albert Schweitzer, among others.³⁹ The Mass at St Peter’s Basilica has been celebrated in Latin near his incorruptible body.⁴⁰ According to American Cosmic, Tyler D. had never previously heard of the Catholic tradition of incorruptible saints before viewing the pope’s preserved body.⁴¹ Diana Walsh Pasulka and Tyler D. later discussed the preserved body the day after Tyler D.’s mother’s funeral, two weeks after they returned from Rome, Italy.⁴² The fact that they had been close to it together was, for Tyler D., a source of comfort following his mother’s death.⁴³

References (43)

Prophecy of the Popes tradition describes John XXIII, pope 1958-1963, as 'Pastor et nauta'
““Pastor et nauta,” “shepherd and seafarer,” applied to John XXIII (1958–63)”
The Fatima Secret ch21:10848-10919
Came from the shepherds' village of Sotto il Monte near Bergamo, herded sheep as a boy
“who came from the shepherds’ village of Soto-il-Monte near Bergamo, and herded sheep as a boy.”
The Fatima Secret ch21:10924-11014
Had been patriarch of Venice before his election
“Before being elected pope he had been patriarch of the famous seafaring city of Venice.”
The Fatima Secret ch21:11019-11099
Announced intention to convene an ecumenical council on 1959-01-25, before reading the Third Secret
“On January 25, 1959, Pope John XXIII announced his intention to convene an ecumenical council, before he had read the Third Secret.”
The Fatima Secret ch18:6683-6807
Had earlier been asked if he wished to see the envelope; said he would let them know
“Finally, the person who was in charge of keeping the envelope safe asked him, “Holy Father, don’t you want to see it?” He answered, “I’ll let you know when you should bring it to me.””
The Fatima Secret ch16:9355-9535
On 1959-08-17 at Castel Gandolfo, received a messenger from Rome asking if he had brought the document
“It was August 17, 1959, in Castelgondolfo, Italy, the summer residence of the pope. "There you are!" exclaimed the man in the white soutane, when he saw the messenger from Rome. "Do you have it with you?"”
The Fatima Secret ch8:96-295
Father Paul Philippe delivered the envelope to him on 1959-08-17
“He handed him an envelope. ... Father Paul Philippe bowed respectfully. He had done his job of bringing to Castelgondolfo what was perhaps the most explosive document in the Christian world.”
The Fatima Secret 7-11
The envelope's seal was still intact when brought to him
“When the envelope was brought to his successor, Pope John XXIII, at Castelgondolfo, the seal on the envelope was still intact.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:6954-7073
Waited four days, until Friday 1959-08-21, before breaking the seal
“Pope John waited four days, until Friday, August 21, before breaking the seal on the envelope, which bore the insignia of the bishop of Leiria.”
The Fatima Secret ch8:817-953
Read the envelope in a closed room with only a Vatican interpreter and confessor Alfredo Cavagna present
“He had arranged for a Vatican interpreter to be present, in case there was difficulty understanding the Portuguese text. Sitting in a closed room, with only the interpreter and his confessor, Monsignor Alfredo Cavagna, present, the pope read the words that Sister Lúcia had written down fifteen years before.”
The Fatima Secret ch8:961-1262
Read slowly with trembling hands, needing interpreter's help as he did not speak Portuguese
“On August 17, 1959, John XXIII read the text of the Third Secret slowly, with trembling hands. The text was difficult and since he did not speak Portuguese, he had to get help from an interpreter more than once.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:9888-10094
His face turned white as chalk as he grasped the content
“When he realized what it was all about, his face turned white as chalk.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:10172-10237
Some closest to him reported he almost fainted with horror on opening it
“When, in 1960, Pope John XXIII opened the Third Secret, some of those closest to him reported that he almost fainted with horror.”
The Fatima Secret ch4:393-515
The seal had been broken six months before the 1960 announcement
“Also, the seal of the letter had already been broken six months before, by Pope John XXIII.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:13226-13311
Three men discussed the secret until late at night; he decided not to publish it
“The three men sat and discussed the contents of Lúcia’s writing until late at night, then the pontiff made his decision. “I cannot publish this and will not publish it. I’ll leave it for others to do so. It is certain that it does not deal with my reign.””
The Fatima Secret ch16:10245-10493
Resealed the letter with a personal note, told advisors, swore them to secrecy
“He put Lúcia’s letter back in its envelope, together with a personal note in which he wrote down the reasons for his decision. Back in Rome he called his closest advisors together and told them about the contents of the secret as well as his decision not to make them public. He made them all swear to keep the secret.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:10501-10812
Kept the Fatima message on his desk until his death on 1963-06-03
“John XXIII kept the Fatima message on his desk during the rest of his period in office, until his death on June 3, 1963.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:13774-13889
Capovilla recalled his decision was 'I will leave it to my successors'
“Paul VI asked me, 'What was the opinion of Pope John XXIII?' Perhaps he wanted to know more, but I could only say what I knew, which was that his decision was 'I will leave it to my successors.' And Paul VI said, 'I shall do that too.'”
The Fatima Secret ch17:10222-10452
1977-05-13 Vatican Radio announcement that neither pope wished to reveal the secret
“Vatican radio announced on May 13, 1977, that neither Pope John XXIII nor Pope Paul VI considered it right to reveal the contents of the third part of the Secret of Fatima to the world at large.”
The Fatima Secret ch17:9578-9766
Five popes, Pius XII to John Paul II, kept the secret under lock and key
“There must have been a reason why five popes, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul I and II, kept it under lock and key.”
The Fatima Secret ch18:3861-3985
Unlike his predecessor, went to Castel Gandolfo in August 1959 and decided to open it
“When he went to Castelgondolfo in August for the summer holidays, he was surrounded by peace and quiet, so perhaps he felt the time had come. Thus Pope John decided to do what his predecessor, out of respect for a falsely interpreted date, had not had the courage to do: he opened the envelope containing the message of Fatima.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:9559-9879
Three further popes followed him: Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II
“After John XXIII there have been three popes: Paul VI (1963–78), John Paul I (1978), and John Paul II (who has been pope since 1978).”
The Fatima Secret ch21:9168-9295
Conchita told her mother there would be three more popes when he died
“When Pope John XXIII died, one of the girls, Conchita, told her mother that there will be three more popes.”
The Fatima Secret ch21:8771-8872
Said in early 1959 he did not want to listen to 'prophets of doom'
“Rome was preparing for the Second Vatican Council, and the air was filled with a sense of hope and a new beginning. No one wanted to listen to “prophets of doom,” as John XXIII called them.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:9087-9271
Opened Vatican II on 1962-10-11 railing again against prophets of doom
“Vatican II was opened on October 11, 1962, with a speech in which the Holy Father raised his voice “against the prophets of doom, who always announce the coming of ominous events, as if the end of the world stood before us.””
The Fatima Secret ch18:6815-7035
Had already read the Third Secret by the time he opened the council
“He had read Lúcia’s secret by then, so was he referring to its contents when he talked about “prophets of doom”?”
The Fatima Secret ch18:7040-7146
Trembled reading it, wanted optimism rather than fear ahead of the council
“Pope John XXIII trembled. He did not want to spread fear; he wanted a state of optimism in the church in preparation for the upcoming Council.”
The Fatima Secret ch24:28908-29042
Declined a suggestion that Sister Lúcia address the world by radio
“When, early in 1959, a high official in the Vatican suggested to Pope John XXIII that Sister Lúcia be permitted to speak to the world over the radio, he turned him down.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:8822-8986
His private secretary wrote it seemed he preferred her to remain silent
““It seemed as if he personally preferred her to be silent,” his private secretary wrote later.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:8993-9080
Martin recalled Cardinal Bea was shaken and annoyed at the 1995 Fatima 2000 Conference
“At the “Fatima 2000” Conference in November 1995 the former secretary of Cardinal Bea, Dr. Malachi Martin, recalled the reaction of the cardinal after he left the secret meeting. He said that the cardinal was obviously shaken, but also annoyed that the pope would not publish the Third Secret.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:11267-11553
Martin said John XXIII later told him the secret's contents himself
“Dr. Martin was later told the contents of the Third Secret by Pope John.”
The Fatima Secret ch16:11561-11628
Freire said the secret influenced otherwise inexplicable decisions
““Quite the contrary,” declared Father José Geraldes Freire, an authority regarding Fatima. “I have evidence that John XXIII gave the message great importance, and that certain major decisions, which many found inexplicable, were influenced by it.””
The Fatima Secret ch16:13982-14224
1962-10-25 appeal for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis
“Pope John XXIII appealed to the world on October 25, desperately pleading for peace.”
The Fatima Secret ch17:1841-1919
Hesemann said it is unknown whether Fatima played a role in the crisis's diplomacy
“Did the Fatima message really play a role in this drama? Did John XXIII reveal some of its contents to the leaders of the major powers during the Cuban crisis? And if he did, did this religious message actually have an influence on them? We do not know.”
The Fatima Secret ch17:2349-2597
Separate account: part of the message not due for revelation until 1960
“A part of that message was not to be revealed until 1960, at which time Pope John XXIII opened the sealed envelope, but did not publish the secret.”
THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE ch15:3552-3692
Vallée: a trusted source's secretary-report on introducing figures for the 1960 opening
“A man whose word I trust received an interesting report from one of the Pope’s secretaries, who introduced the highest men in the Church into the presence of John XXIII for the opening of the secret part of the Fatima prophecy in 1960.”
THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE ch15:21235-21465
Vallée: cardinals left with looks of horror, one walked on 'as though he had seen a ghost'
“the secretary had the opportunity to see the cardinals as they left the Pope’s office: they had a look of deep horror on their faces. He got up from behind his desk and tried to speak to one of them whom he knew intimately, but the prelate gently pushed him aside and walked on with the expression of someone who has seen a ghost.”
THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE ch15:21529-21853
Vallée said the information sheds light on reactions, not necessarily contents
“Some indirect information on the circumstances of this opening of the message, which I have obtained, sheds light on the reactions of high Church officials to the prophecy, if not on its actual contents.”
THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE ch15:3700-3894
Alleged UMMO message named him among a purported extraterrestrial expeditionary group
“The expeditionary group that originated with the solidified celestial body UMMO is found among the citizens of various nations on Earth, with the Man Bertrand Russell and others among his brothers: Mirandas K. Gandhi, Ernesto (Che) Guevara, Helder Camara, John XXIII, Martin Luther King, Karl Marx, Emmanuel Mounier, Albert Schweitzer, Tolstoi, and others.”
THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE ch12:26475-26824
Latin Mass at St Peter's Basilica celebrated near his incorruptible body
“The Mass was celebrated in Latin, near the incorruptible body of Pope John XXIII, which certainly enhanced the surreal quality of my experience.”
American Cosmic ch7:15008-15141
Tyler D. had never heard of the incorruptible-saints tradition before viewing it
“Later I found out that he didn’t know what I had said and was astonished that we had been so close to a dead body. He had never heard of the tradition of incorruptible saints”
American Cosmic ch7:15864-16032
Pasulka and Tyler D. discussed the preserved body after Tyler D.'s mother's funeral
“Tyler and I talked about this on the day after his mother’s funeral, two weeks after we had returned from Rome.”
American Cosmic ch7:16301-16407
Having been close to the body together comforted Tyler D. after his mother's death
“The fact that we had been so close to John XXIII’s preserved body was comforting to him.”
American Cosmic ch7:16413-16497

John XXIII

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