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The Good Pope: The Making of a Saint and the Remaking of the Church--The Story of John XXIII and Vatican II
“John XXIII was, in the best possible sense, a revolutionary—a Pope of modernization who kept in continuity with the church’s past, yet made even the most enlightened of his 20th century predecessors seem like voices of another age.”
— Time magazine “The story of Good Pope John is always worth telling….Greg Tobin tells it very well. As we wait for better days, this story will help to keep hope alive.”
—Thomas Groome, Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College, author of Will There Be Faith Published in the 50th anniversary year of the historic Vatican Council II, The Good Pope by Greg Tobin is the first major biography of Pope John XXIII, a universally beloved religious leader who ushered in an era of hope and openness in the Catholic Church—and whose reforms, had they been accepted, would have enabled the church to avoid many of the major crises it faces today. Available prior to John XXIII’s likely canonization, Tobin’s The Good Pope is timely and important, offering a fascinating look at the legacy of Vatican Council II, an insightful investigation into the history of the Catholic Church, and a celebration of one of its true heroes.
— Time magazine “The story of Good Pope John is always worth telling….Greg Tobin tells it very well. As we wait for better days, this story will help to keep hope alive.”
—Thomas Groome, Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College, author of Will There Be Faith Published in the 50th anniversary year of the historic Vatican Council II, The Good Pope by Greg Tobin is the first major biography of Pope John XXIII, a universally beloved religious leader who ushered in an era of hope and openness in the Catholic Church—and whose reforms, had they been accepted, would have enabled the church to avoid many of the major crises it faces today. Available prior to John XXIII’s likely canonization, Tobin’s The Good Pope is timely and important, offering a fascinating look at the legacy of Vatican Council II, an insightful investigation into the history of the Catholic Church, and a celebration of one of its true heroes.
267 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2012
35 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Greg Tobin
28 books7 followersGreg Tobin is the author of several books on the Catholic Church. He was the editor of The Catholic Advocate, and during the April 2005 papal transition he appeared frequently on national radio and TV programs as an expert commentator on the popes and the papal election process. His books Selecting the Pope and Holy Father were widely used as authoritative resources on the subject and were quoted in the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, as well as the Associated Press. He lives in West Orange, NJ."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 22, 2018
The legacy of the Good Pope, St John XXIII, lives on in this engaging book written by Greg Tobin. Humble by nature, the Good Pope accomplished so much: convening the Second Vatican Council and penning the astounding encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth). In this biography the life of Angelo Roncalli is described from start to finish and somewhat beyond. The Second Vatican Council completed its meetings and decisions after his death.
I have always been impressed by Pacem in Terris. I studied it enough to present its tenets to a Unitarian Church Forum. Non-Catholics were primarily in attendance at this presentation. Even these people were impressed by the Pope's message of nuclear non-proliferation. The Good Pope continued to impress even after his death.
John XXIII was the second pope who reigned during my lifetime and I feel blessed to have been able to read about his life and achievements.
I have always been impressed by Pacem in Terris. I studied it enough to present its tenets to a Unitarian Church Forum. Non-Catholics were primarily in attendance at this presentation. Even these people were impressed by the Pope's message of nuclear non-proliferation. The Good Pope continued to impress even after his death.
John XXIII was the second pope who reigned during my lifetime and I feel blessed to have been able to read about his life and achievements.
September 24, 2012
"They called him Il Buono Papa, 'the Good Pope.' During Pope John XXIII's lifetime - and especially in the immediate aftermath of his death from stomach cancer on June 3, 1963 - Italian Catholics and Socialists alike; journalists and diplomats; Roman Catholics, Protestants, non-Christians, and nonbelievers across the globe; men and women of every race, class, and nation called him 'good' and mourned his passing."
I was born after the death of Pope John XXIII. My generation vividly recalls the impact our own saintly pope, John Paul II, had in reaching out to non-Catholics and his stance against Communism. But this era of ecumenism is actually a continuation of the Papacy of John XXIII.
In The Good Pope, author Greg Tobin examines the life of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, from his early years as a peasant farm boy, to his priesthood, where he was sent to study Canon Law, and eventually sent abroad to "backwater" countries where Catholicism was by far the minority. As the story develops, we see this young priest shine in the area of diplomacy - reaching out to all of God's children, not just the Catholics. His rise to the Papacy seems quite improbable, but yet, he was, in the end, the perfect man for the job. In a time when the world experienced a split between capitalism and communism, and at the same time, our world was becoming smaller with the advent of new technologies, change was in the air. As Pope, John XXIII, called for a new ecumenical council - Vatican II. As Tobin asserts:
"This pope still matters because he stood with his feet planted firmly in the swiftly flowing river of history and, like the legendary Saint Christopher, helped his people move safely from one bank to the other without being swept away by raging currents beneath. Thus he 'saved' the Church he loved so much, preserving its core doctrines intact, through force of will and personal diplomacy as manifested in a humble, indeed earthly spirituality that contradicted most expectations by his peers."
As the 50th anniversary of Vatican II approaches, now is an excellent time to study the life of Pope John XXIII. Tobin's book is a good first look at this man, who was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2000. I appreciated Roncalli's astuteness in his stance against Italian fascism - the Mussolini government tried to court it's Catholic population by promoting Catholicism in the schools and returning crucifixes to public buildings. But Roncalli bravely spoke out and said "His (Mussolini's) goals may perhaps be good and correct, but the means he takes to realize them are wicked." In hindsight, of course, we know he was correct. But at the time, there were many Catholics who felt the end justified the means.
I enjoyed reading about Good Pope John's reaching out to Nikita Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At a time when the western world frowned upon diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, the Pope understood that peace would not be achieved by closed doors. By allowing messages back and forth between the Kremlin, John XXIII achieved the release of Orthodox Archbishop Slipyi, held prisoner in the Gulag for seventeen years. In fact, this Pope consecrated his life for the conversion of Russia to the Catholic Church.
In addition to his chapters on Vatican II, Tobin devotes time to John's eighth and final encyclical, Pacem in terris (Peace on Earth), which was written while the Pope was suffering with stomach cancer, just months prior to his death in 1963. He writes that it was well received by everyone - capitalists, socialists, communists, and non-Christians, and was one more important contribution to the world from his Papacy. For a man with less than five years in the seat of St. Peter, Pope John XXIII made an impact on the world that is still felt today.
I was born after the death of Pope John XXIII. My generation vividly recalls the impact our own saintly pope, John Paul II, had in reaching out to non-Catholics and his stance against Communism. But this era of ecumenism is actually a continuation of the Papacy of John XXIII.
In The Good Pope, author Greg Tobin examines the life of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, from his early years as a peasant farm boy, to his priesthood, where he was sent to study Canon Law, and eventually sent abroad to "backwater" countries where Catholicism was by far the minority. As the story develops, we see this young priest shine in the area of diplomacy - reaching out to all of God's children, not just the Catholics. His rise to the Papacy seems quite improbable, but yet, he was, in the end, the perfect man for the job. In a time when the world experienced a split between capitalism and communism, and at the same time, our world was becoming smaller with the advent of new technologies, change was in the air. As Pope, John XXIII, called for a new ecumenical council - Vatican II. As Tobin asserts:
"This pope still matters because he stood with his feet planted firmly in the swiftly flowing river of history and, like the legendary Saint Christopher, helped his people move safely from one bank to the other without being swept away by raging currents beneath. Thus he 'saved' the Church he loved so much, preserving its core doctrines intact, through force of will and personal diplomacy as manifested in a humble, indeed earthly spirituality that contradicted most expectations by his peers."
As the 50th anniversary of Vatican II approaches, now is an excellent time to study the life of Pope John XXIII. Tobin's book is a good first look at this man, who was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2000. I appreciated Roncalli's astuteness in his stance against Italian fascism - the Mussolini government tried to court it's Catholic population by promoting Catholicism in the schools and returning crucifixes to public buildings. But Roncalli bravely spoke out and said "His (Mussolini's) goals may perhaps be good and correct, but the means he takes to realize them are wicked." In hindsight, of course, we know he was correct. But at the time, there were many Catholics who felt the end justified the means.
I enjoyed reading about Good Pope John's reaching out to Nikita Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At a time when the western world frowned upon diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, the Pope understood that peace would not be achieved by closed doors. By allowing messages back and forth between the Kremlin, John XXIII achieved the release of Orthodox Archbishop Slipyi, held prisoner in the Gulag for seventeen years. In fact, this Pope consecrated his life for the conversion of Russia to the Catholic Church.
In addition to his chapters on Vatican II, Tobin devotes time to John's eighth and final encyclical, Pacem in terris (Peace on Earth), which was written while the Pope was suffering with stomach cancer, just months prior to his death in 1963. He writes that it was well received by everyone - capitalists, socialists, communists, and non-Christians, and was one more important contribution to the world from his Papacy. For a man with less than five years in the seat of St. Peter, Pope John XXIII made an impact on the world that is still felt today.
July 20, 2020
Pope Saint John XXIII is my personal hero. I looked forward to reading Mr. Tobin’s book on this holy, but very earthy, man. I was not disappointed.
In his brief time as Pope of the Catholic Church, he opened an ancient church to the world. Pope John XXIII embraced the world and the world embraced him. This book opens with his birth into a humble family and shows how his simple origins gave rise to a man who understood simplicity. Yet, he became a diplomat and a world mover, giving rise to the Second Vatican Council. He never forgot his past and he understood the world as it was.
I highly recommend this book.
In his brief time as Pope of the Catholic Church, he opened an ancient church to the world. Pope John XXIII embraced the world and the world embraced him. This book opens with his birth into a humble family and shows how his simple origins gave rise to a man who understood simplicity. Yet, he became a diplomat and a world mover, giving rise to the Second Vatican Council. He never forgot his past and he understood the world as it was.
I highly recommend this book.
August 18, 2022
“The Good Pope” is a straightforward, short biography of Pope Saint John XXIII. The author focuses on Angelo Roncalli’s simple faith, humility, orthodoxy and ecumenism.
Roncalli was also a family man, one of 12 siblings. He was born of a Italian peasant family in Bergamo, Italy. His hard work and intelligence led him to become a priest and later a secretary to his bishop. From this, his life spent working for the Vatican produced great fruits.
Pope John initiated the Vatican II Council based on prompting by the Holy Spirit. I understood from the book that even though Roncalli was pushed out of authority by being relegated to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey as a Vatican diplomat, he was always pushed back into the foreground of Church authority. He was most at home with fellow farmers, and his humility allowed him to connect with his leaders, his congregation, non-Catholics, atheists and communists. Truly, he was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.
Roncalli was also a family man, one of 12 siblings. He was born of a Italian peasant family in Bergamo, Italy. His hard work and intelligence led him to become a priest and later a secretary to his bishop. From this, his life spent working for the Vatican produced great fruits.
Pope John initiated the Vatican II Council based on prompting by the Holy Spirit. I understood from the book that even though Roncalli was pushed out of authority by being relegated to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey as a Vatican diplomat, he was always pushed back into the foreground of Church authority. He was most at home with fellow farmers, and his humility allowed him to connect with his leaders, his congregation, non-Catholics, atheists and communists. Truly, he was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.
May 5, 2023
A pleasant and easy read about the life, personality and motivations of Pope John XXIII.
This book focuses on the life and career of the man who became John XXIII. It touches on the many influences on his life leading to its unlikely conclusion.
It is clearly a positive look at his life, there is very little in the way of criticism. It does touch on some of the opposition to his initiative of Vatican II.
As a lifelong Catholic who did not come into the church until after the changes created by Vatican II it gave me a little insight into the motivations that led to the Pope calling the counsel and his goals for doing so.
It is not a technical or scholarly examination of Vatican II, but a fairly light look at John XXIII life and description of the type of human being he was.
I would recommend the book for someone looking to learn about the life of John XXIII that does not get bogged down in a larger discussion about the effects and consequences of Vatican II.
This book focuses on the life and career of the man who became John XXIII. It touches on the many influences on his life leading to its unlikely conclusion.
It is clearly a positive look at his life, there is very little in the way of criticism. It does touch on some of the opposition to his initiative of Vatican II.
As a lifelong Catholic who did not come into the church until after the changes created by Vatican II it gave me a little insight into the motivations that led to the Pope calling the counsel and his goals for doing so.
It is not a technical or scholarly examination of Vatican II, but a fairly light look at John XXIII life and description of the type of human being he was.
I would recommend the book for someone looking to learn about the life of John XXIII that does not get bogged down in a larger discussion about the effects and consequences of Vatican II.
January 9, 2021
I have heard many opinions on St. John XXIII and Vatican II especially from individuals who enjoy Latin Liturgy, but also religious sisters in the United States who entered or left during that time period. However reading this historical and researched source that was published before Pope Francis was Pope, really helped me understand the facts and language used by who I would also call “The Good Pope.”
September 28, 2012
As a non-Catholic I came to this book with no knowledge of Pope John XXIII or the tenets of the faith, but I enjoy stories of great people and how they got that way. Tobin’s biography did not disappoint as he took us through the life of Pope John; from his peasant childhood in the Italian mountains to the beginnings of his greatest achievement, Vatican II.
From the very beginning his parents were committed to the faith as they waited all day at the church for the priest to return so Angelo (Pope John) could be baptized. “There was no question of returning later” as hard life in the country had taught them tomorrow may never come, at least for some. It is a great message for all those who procrastinate the truly important, like living a more righteous life.
The general theme of the man (and the book) was one of ecumenicism, that respect for others and worrying about the weightier matters in life would do more to further the work of God, or at a minimum, peace in this world. Too often in life, especially in politics, religion, sports, etc., people become severely partisan. So much so their entire focus becomes how the other side is wrong. They sacrifice understanding why they believe what they do in order to understand all the ways others are not right. They build walls to separate themselves from others and eventually lose the ability to work with those different from themselves.
While stationed in Turkey Atatürk banned all religious displays including clothing. Angelo Roncalli said “What does it matter whether we wear the soutane or trousers as long as we proclaim the word of God.” It demonstrates how people get fixated on some outward appearance rather than what is on the inside. Several parables come to mind that teach this same principle, from the mote in the eye to the Good Samaritan. Roncalli was a man who believed the bible when it said we were to love all men.
He also demonstrated good humor about his situation from describing his father, “There are three ways of ruining oneself – women, gambling, and farming. My father chose the most boring.” His description of his circumstances to a friend “Without having taken a vow of poverty I am practicing it.” When asked about how many people worked in the Vatican “About half of them.” It all goes to show a man who did not take himself too seriously while at the same time holding the office which he held with the greatest respect. This ability to get down literally in the trenches (served as a priest in WWI) with those he was called to minister served him well as his responsibilities increased.
The message of the bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is love for all men, respect of others and their sincere desires to be good people. Through the daily actions of his life he tried to live this principle to its fullest, and worked to change those who would co-opt the scriptures to abuse their fellow men. When criticized for working with the Russians to secure the release of a imprisoned Bishop, or even the peaceful end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, he said “We must not condemn them (Russians) because we don’t like their political system.” It is a sad world when a lot of us condemn others for much less.
A Side Note: I do find it interesting how the JFK church/state separation is much touted as a criticism of Mitt Romney and his Mormonism, but JFK, the Russians, and Pope John XXIII were very involved together to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. The aforementioned “complete” separation obviously had some cracks no one seems to interested in discussing nowadays. Plus, don’t get me wrong, I am not criticizing the involvement at all, I just find it fascinating.
I found almost the entire book delightful and full of interesting quotes and stories that served to uplift my own worldview. All of us could be a little nicer in life and while I am sure Pope John XXIII would be the first to agree he was far from perfect, at times in his life he did a pretty good job of doing his best.
Unfortunately I did find one section of the book that was out of tune with the rest, that was like hitting a jarring speed bump on the highway when all else had been fine. At one point the author’s own biases bled through and took me out of the narrative completely. I won’t get into the several issues the author brought up because at the end of the day they are things of personal opinion and have nothing to do with Pope John XXIII. But when you are purporting to write a biography and you begin a sentence with “It might be mere semantics and revisionism to ask how John himself might comment on the contemporary issue of …” and then go ahead and spout your personal opinions and state that the Pope would have clearly agreed with me – you have gone wrong.
This process of co-opting the Pope to make divisive statements of contemporary issues was just plain disgraceful. It ruined the flow of the book and it honestly took at least fifty more pages to get back into the life story again. Furthermore it made me suspicious of the rest of the text that the author might be forcing his opinion in and I just wasn’t noticing. At the end those ten or so pages really brought down an otherwise excellent life story of a great man who, as it seemed to me, deserved better.
From the very beginning his parents were committed to the faith as they waited all day at the church for the priest to return so Angelo (Pope John) could be baptized. “There was no question of returning later” as hard life in the country had taught them tomorrow may never come, at least for some. It is a great message for all those who procrastinate the truly important, like living a more righteous life.
The general theme of the man (and the book) was one of ecumenicism, that respect for others and worrying about the weightier matters in life would do more to further the work of God, or at a minimum, peace in this world. Too often in life, especially in politics, religion, sports, etc., people become severely partisan. So much so their entire focus becomes how the other side is wrong. They sacrifice understanding why they believe what they do in order to understand all the ways others are not right. They build walls to separate themselves from others and eventually lose the ability to work with those different from themselves.
While stationed in Turkey Atatürk banned all religious displays including clothing. Angelo Roncalli said “What does it matter whether we wear the soutane or trousers as long as we proclaim the word of God.” It demonstrates how people get fixated on some outward appearance rather than what is on the inside. Several parables come to mind that teach this same principle, from the mote in the eye to the Good Samaritan. Roncalli was a man who believed the bible when it said we were to love all men.
He also demonstrated good humor about his situation from describing his father, “There are three ways of ruining oneself – women, gambling, and farming. My father chose the most boring.” His description of his circumstances to a friend “Without having taken a vow of poverty I am practicing it.” When asked about how many people worked in the Vatican “About half of them.” It all goes to show a man who did not take himself too seriously while at the same time holding the office which he held with the greatest respect. This ability to get down literally in the trenches (served as a priest in WWI) with those he was called to minister served him well as his responsibilities increased.
The message of the bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is love for all men, respect of others and their sincere desires to be good people. Through the daily actions of his life he tried to live this principle to its fullest, and worked to change those who would co-opt the scriptures to abuse their fellow men. When criticized for working with the Russians to secure the release of a imprisoned Bishop, or even the peaceful end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, he said “We must not condemn them (Russians) because we don’t like their political system.” It is a sad world when a lot of us condemn others for much less.
A Side Note: I do find it interesting how the JFK church/state separation is much touted as a criticism of Mitt Romney and his Mormonism, but JFK, the Russians, and Pope John XXIII were very involved together to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. The aforementioned “complete” separation obviously had some cracks no one seems to interested in discussing nowadays. Plus, don’t get me wrong, I am not criticizing the involvement at all, I just find it fascinating.
I found almost the entire book delightful and full of interesting quotes and stories that served to uplift my own worldview. All of us could be a little nicer in life and while I am sure Pope John XXIII would be the first to agree he was far from perfect, at times in his life he did a pretty good job of doing his best.
Unfortunately I did find one section of the book that was out of tune with the rest, that was like hitting a jarring speed bump on the highway when all else had been fine. At one point the author’s own biases bled through and took me out of the narrative completely. I won’t get into the several issues the author brought up because at the end of the day they are things of personal opinion and have nothing to do with Pope John XXIII. But when you are purporting to write a biography and you begin a sentence with “It might be mere semantics and revisionism to ask how John himself might comment on the contemporary issue of …” and then go ahead and spout your personal opinions and state that the Pope would have clearly agreed with me – you have gone wrong.
This process of co-opting the Pope to make divisive statements of contemporary issues was just plain disgraceful. It ruined the flow of the book and it honestly took at least fifty more pages to get back into the life story again. Furthermore it made me suspicious of the rest of the text that the author might be forcing his opinion in and I just wasn’t noticing. At the end those ten or so pages really brought down an otherwise excellent life story of a great man who, as it seemed to me, deserved better.
June 10, 2025
A good, quick bio of John XXIII, positioning his life as a crucial turning point in the Catholic Church. Does a decent job of tying his conservative theology, his modernist mentors, and the later radical reimagining of different facets of the Church.
Recommended for anyone interested in the history of the popes, Vatican II, ecumenism, or the 20th-century Roman Catholic Church.
Recommended for anyone interested in the history of the popes, Vatican II, ecumenism, or the 20th-century Roman Catholic Church.
February 25, 2020
This well-written biography flows very steadily despite its length. However the author interjects his own opinions about Church teaching that really isn’t relevant or necessary in telling the story of the pope saint.
January 2, 2024
Where many books like this can be long and focus on the minutiae of certain aspects of his life, this book serves as a great overview of an incredible person. It is highly informative and I learned a great deal about John XXIII.
September 15, 2025
Fantastic to read about the guy who made the Catholic Church what it is today. Absolute rockstar of a human being. The middle got REALLY slow but highly recommend if you know anything about the Good Pope.
April 24, 2019
Told with reverence and well done considering the dearth if source materials.
December 8, 2024
Well written but didn't hold my attention at the time so I returned it back to the library.
December 19, 2023
5H50m
9/10
9/10
November 3, 2012
The Good Pope: John XXIII & Vatican II, The Making of a Saint and the Remaking of the Church by Greg Tobin is a biography of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the Pope. John XXIII is credited with helping modernized the Catholic Church even though he only served as Pope from 1958 to 1963.
I wanted to read The Good Pope: John XXIII & Vatican II, The Making of a Saint and the Remaking of the Church by Greg Tobin because I am very unfamiliar with the Catholic dogma and beliefs. Being brought up Jewish I can also not comprehend the elevated status to the Pope in the eyes of mortal men as well as the whole idea of elevating a man into the status of “saint”.
I found it fascinating to read about the different faction within the Catholic church which I never knew existed. The whole “liberals” vs. “conservatives” division was explained very well without dissenting into blame or divisiveness, as Mr. Tobin is simply telling a story (and a good one at that) without taking sides; of course the reader gets to see events more clearly from the point of view of the subject of the book.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about John XXIII, but also about the Christian religion in general and the Catholic sect specifically. However, many of the terms are “technical” which I never heard of and had to look up many of them and then re-read the section to understand them within context.
That being said, the book is very readable, easy to read on a very likeable subject. I got the impression that John XXIII/ Angelo Roncalli was truly a very good man, a strong Pope who kept his “priest in the trenches” priorities while holding the highest level in his occupation. An unglamorous man who was truly a man-of-G-d first and a politician second.
One of John XXIII greatest achievements, outside of providing spiritual guidance for individuals, was convening the Second Vatican Council which was trying to reform the church. The Second Council’s agenda was to open the religion to the modern world while preserving the core traditions, a very difficult mission especially with the conservatives within the Vatican fighting tooth and nail against those reforms.
The Good Pope is an authoritative biography of a poor peasant who became Pope, a man full of humility, goodness and a healthy sense of humor which helped him greatly throughout his ordeals, diplomatic missions and facing his opponents. Filled with personal passages from Roncalli’s journal, the book is an amazing insight into a man whose short tenure left a large legacy.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
I wanted to read The Good Pope: John XXIII & Vatican II, The Making of a Saint and the Remaking of the Church by Greg Tobin because I am very unfamiliar with the Catholic dogma and beliefs. Being brought up Jewish I can also not comprehend the elevated status to the Pope in the eyes of mortal men as well as the whole idea of elevating a man into the status of “saint”.
I found it fascinating to read about the different faction within the Catholic church which I never knew existed. The whole “liberals” vs. “conservatives” division was explained very well without dissenting into blame or divisiveness, as Mr. Tobin is simply telling a story (and a good one at that) without taking sides; of course the reader gets to see events more clearly from the point of view of the subject of the book.
I learned a lot from this book, not only about John XXIII, but also about the Christian religion in general and the Catholic sect specifically. However, many of the terms are “technical” which I never heard of and had to look up many of them and then re-read the section to understand them within context.
That being said, the book is very readable, easy to read on a very likeable subject. I got the impression that John XXIII/ Angelo Roncalli was truly a very good man, a strong Pope who kept his “priest in the trenches” priorities while holding the highest level in his occupation. An unglamorous man who was truly a man-of-G-d first and a politician second.
One of John XXIII greatest achievements, outside of providing spiritual guidance for individuals, was convening the Second Vatican Council which was trying to reform the church. The Second Council’s agenda was to open the religion to the modern world while preserving the core traditions, a very difficult mission especially with the conservatives within the Vatican fighting tooth and nail against those reforms.
The Good Pope is an authoritative biography of a poor peasant who became Pope, a man full of humility, goodness and a healthy sense of humor which helped him greatly throughout his ordeals, diplomatic missions and facing his opponents. Filled with personal passages from Roncalli’s journal, the book is an amazing insight into a man whose short tenure left a large legacy.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
April 6, 2016
This disappointing book was written in a hurry and sloppily edited. The first 90 pages which cover Angelo Roncalli's life from his birth in 1881 to his election as pope in 1958 are particularly dreadful. In the remaining 150 pages, the author manages at least to provide an engaging history of Roncalli's papacy as well as describing the Vatican II council in a lively fashion that recreates the excitement of the era.
Tobin comes across as a journalist who is able to add colour to events through anecdotes obtained in personal conversations. His skills as a historian are virtually non-existent. His description of the conflicts between the Italian state and the Vatican during Roncalli's life time is highly inept and somewhat misleading.
Tobin's weaknesses as an historian are compounded by dreadful editing. On page 56, the book informs the reader that Islam was the largest religion in Bulgaria in the 1920s when Roncalli was the assigned to the country on a diplomatic mission. Presumably, Tobin meant to say that Muslims constituted the largest religious minority where over half the population belonged to the Greek Orthodox church. Unfortunately the editors failed to catch this absurd error. Then on page 62, Tobin states that most Turks in the 1930s were "followers of Allah". Here one has to assume that neither Tobin nor his editors were aware of the fact that "Allah" is the Arabic word for God used by both Christian and Muslim Arabs. Tobin was at least correct if he meant that most Turks were Muslims at the time Roncalli was stationed in the country as a diplomat.
The last two-thirds of the book are noticeably better. Here Tobin manages to explain to a young generation of Catholics what happened in the Vatican II Council and how it affected the practice of the Catholic faith in our era.
The problem with this book could be Tobin simply assumed that his readers would know very little about the subject matter. At one point he explains that the Vatican is a sovereign state. Later he informs the reader that the Vatican issues its own stamps and coins. Personally I learned of these facts when at age eight when I started a stamp collection. My mother who was helping me to start my collections gave me several Vatican stamps and explained that indeed the Vatican was a nation not simply a neighbourhood in Rome. Tobin appears to assume that his readers would have reached adulthood without learning that the Vatican was a state. This assumption that Tobin makes about his readers serious undermines his book.
Tobin comes across as a journalist who is able to add colour to events through anecdotes obtained in personal conversations. His skills as a historian are virtually non-existent. His description of the conflicts between the Italian state and the Vatican during Roncalli's life time is highly inept and somewhat misleading.
Tobin's weaknesses as an historian are compounded by dreadful editing. On page 56, the book informs the reader that Islam was the largest religion in Bulgaria in the 1920s when Roncalli was the assigned to the country on a diplomatic mission. Presumably, Tobin meant to say that Muslims constituted the largest religious minority where over half the population belonged to the Greek Orthodox church. Unfortunately the editors failed to catch this absurd error. Then on page 62, Tobin states that most Turks in the 1930s were "followers of Allah". Here one has to assume that neither Tobin nor his editors were aware of the fact that "Allah" is the Arabic word for God used by both Christian and Muslim Arabs. Tobin was at least correct if he meant that most Turks were Muslims at the time Roncalli was stationed in the country as a diplomat.
The last two-thirds of the book are noticeably better. Here Tobin manages to explain to a young generation of Catholics what happened in the Vatican II Council and how it affected the practice of the Catholic faith in our era.
The problem with this book could be Tobin simply assumed that his readers would know very little about the subject matter. At one point he explains that the Vatican is a sovereign state. Later he informs the reader that the Vatican issues its own stamps and coins. Personally I learned of these facts when at age eight when I started a stamp collection. My mother who was helping me to start my collections gave me several Vatican stamps and explained that indeed the Vatican was a nation not simply a neighbourhood in Rome. Tobin appears to assume that his readers would have reached adulthood without learning that the Vatican was a state. This assumption that Tobin makes about his readers serious undermines his book.
June 30, 2013
Pope John XXIII was one of the most beloved religious representatives in the 20th century. Why? What made him such a popular individual with the lay people of the Catholic Church? What background shaped this “caretaker” Pope, originally expected to do little while holding the seat warm until the next election?
“The Good Pope: John XXIII & Vatican II” by Greg Tobin is a good look at the life of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, a son of peasant farmers who entered the priesthood, served in various capacities, and rose to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church. This last sentence actually summarizes the book quite distinctly and delineates the major aspects of his life and career – the things that molded him into the man who would lead the Catholic Church into the 20th century (more than halfway THROUGH that century …)
The book is largely written from a secular standpoint for the layman's benefit; it reads much more like a traditional biography than a religious treatise. Of course, it would be impossible to review the life and times of such a man without delving into Christian and Catholic beliefs, but these are done as though from an outsider looking in. Only in the last chapter does the author begin to assume that the reader is “one of the faithful”, freely utilizing phrases like “inspired by the Holy Spirit”. I would have expected the book to conclude in the same manner with which the first 95% was written – or else expected that first 95% to match the conclusion. This inconsistency does not significantly draw away from the writer's accomplishments.
“The Good Pope” is a great book for Roman Catholics of all ages, whether you were old enough to remember John XXIII or not - and it's a very good book for those of other faiths, as well.
DISCLOSURE: I won this book in a blogger's contest; no conditions, including even a commitment to write a review, were requested or made in return.
“The Good Pope: John XXIII & Vatican II” by Greg Tobin is a good look at the life of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, a son of peasant farmers who entered the priesthood, served in various capacities, and rose to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church. This last sentence actually summarizes the book quite distinctly and delineates the major aspects of his life and career – the things that molded him into the man who would lead the Catholic Church into the 20th century (more than halfway THROUGH that century …)
The book is largely written from a secular standpoint for the layman's benefit; it reads much more like a traditional biography than a religious treatise. Of course, it would be impossible to review the life and times of such a man without delving into Christian and Catholic beliefs, but these are done as though from an outsider looking in. Only in the last chapter does the author begin to assume that the reader is “one of the faithful”, freely utilizing phrases like “inspired by the Holy Spirit”. I would have expected the book to conclude in the same manner with which the first 95% was written – or else expected that first 95% to match the conclusion. This inconsistency does not significantly draw away from the writer's accomplishments.
“The Good Pope” is a great book for Roman Catholics of all ages, whether you were old enough to remember John XXIII or not - and it's a very good book for those of other faiths, as well.
DISCLOSURE: I won this book in a blogger's contest; no conditions, including even a commitment to write a review, were requested or made in return.
January 14, 2013
I saw this at my local library and picked it up because I married into a Catholic family and live in a very Catholic neighborhood. Also, I had heard of Vatican II but didn't know what it was. Overall I'm glad I read this glowing biography of Pope John XXIII and it makes me want to read more about modern Roman Catholicism.
At first I was skeptical of the overwhelmingly positive portrayal of Angelo Roncalli (really? No mistakes or missteps at all? People only disliked him because he was so open and charitable to foreigners and non-Catholics?), but then again the man did become pope. Though it wasn't clear how exactly he became pope. The bare facts of his promotions and the ultimate conclave and election were described, but the underlying causes left unexplained (why him and not someone else? You can't just say he got the most votes).
I often felt i was missing the doctrinal implications of certain statements made or the significance of a visit to a certain shrine, and I was inundated by unfamiliar vocabulary: nuncio, encyclical, Curia, prelate, synod, vestments, etc. But once i realized the book was written for Catholics (who else would read a papal biography?) I calmed down and used context cues the best I could. I also enjoyed the parade of fabulous Italian names (one of the pope's valets was named Guido).
Pope John XXIII only lived through the first part of the Second Vatican Council, do I didn't quite get the in-depth explanation I was looking for. But I did learn that despite lots of internal political pressures within the Church Pope John XXIII was able to move the Church in a modern direction, engaging with current affairs, dialoguing with world leaders and other faiths, and emphasizing social justice. Sounds like quite a good man, er, pope after all!
At first I was skeptical of the overwhelmingly positive portrayal of Angelo Roncalli (really? No mistakes or missteps at all? People only disliked him because he was so open and charitable to foreigners and non-Catholics?), but then again the man did become pope. Though it wasn't clear how exactly he became pope. The bare facts of his promotions and the ultimate conclave and election were described, but the underlying causes left unexplained (why him and not someone else? You can't just say he got the most votes).
I often felt i was missing the doctrinal implications of certain statements made or the significance of a visit to a certain shrine, and I was inundated by unfamiliar vocabulary: nuncio, encyclical, Curia, prelate, synod, vestments, etc. But once i realized the book was written for Catholics (who else would read a papal biography?) I calmed down and used context cues the best I could. I also enjoyed the parade of fabulous Italian names (one of the pope's valets was named Guido).
Pope John XXIII only lived through the first part of the Second Vatican Council, do I didn't quite get the in-depth explanation I was looking for. But I did learn that despite lots of internal political pressures within the Church Pope John XXIII was able to move the Church in a modern direction, engaging with current affairs, dialoguing with world leaders and other faiths, and emphasizing social justice. Sounds like quite a good man, er, pope after all!
April 21, 2014
Interesting biography of Pope John XXIII who is being canonized into sainthood this coming Sunday. He is the pope who started the council known as Vatican II which "modernized" the church. A man of very humble origins, he was only expected to be a "caretaker" and not make any waves. But his varied experiences during his time as a priest, bishop, and cardinal gave him a unique background and he turned out to be the right man at the right time.
But even being a lifelong Catholic, there were many new things I learned. I was not aware of his diplomatic efforts during the Cuban missile crisis (being a Vatican diplomat in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey during some of his career probably helped), his subtle resistance to much of Mussolini's agenda, and that he was Time Magazine's man of the year. One of his encyclicals, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) is still widely revered, and was written while he knew he was dying of stomach cancer.
I was three years old when Pope John XXIII died and it was interesting to see the beginnings of all that I grew up with going to Catholic schools.
But even being a lifelong Catholic, there were many new things I learned. I was not aware of his diplomatic efforts during the Cuban missile crisis (being a Vatican diplomat in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey during some of his career probably helped), his subtle resistance to much of Mussolini's agenda, and that he was Time Magazine's man of the year. One of his encyclicals, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) is still widely revered, and was written while he knew he was dying of stomach cancer.
I was three years old when Pope John XXIII died and it was interesting to see the beginnings of all that I grew up with going to Catholic schools.
April 6, 2014
I read this book with great anticipation after reading some of the reviews. It had some really great insights into the simple life he lead and how he gave the appearance of a simple peasant, which he was, but was a true master of understanding what needed to be done and then moving reluctant teams to doing it. Pope John XXIII accomplished so much in such a short amount of time and this book did a great job of showing how he really planned for his Papacy and came to it with specific goals and a vision of what he wanted to do.
The book comes up short in clearly defining John's vision for the church. It does explain it in high level terms but given the desire to make this more of a motivational tale it seems too high level. I think it skimps too lightly on the details on the Vatican II council. Granted Pope John was not involved that deeply but it was deep enough.
This is a good book which could have been better!
The book comes up short in clearly defining John's vision for the church. It does explain it in high level terms but given the desire to make this more of a motivational tale it seems too high level. I think it skimps too lightly on the details on the Vatican II council. Granted Pope John was not involved that deeply but it was deep enough.
This is a good book which could have been better!
November 12, 2015
A good quick summary of the life of a remarkable man and his major achievement. The book suffers slightly from a tendency toward hagiography, which I suppose is inevitable in the biography of an actual saint. There are also signs of sloppy hurried editing and of the tension between objective reporting and allowing the author to celebrate a man who is obviously one of his own heroes. Tobin also is occasionally heavy-handed with his analysis of events and the writings of John XXIII and his opponents. All in all, however, worth reading as an introduction. I intend to follow this up with more in-depth studies of Angelo Roncalli's life and work and particularly the continuing impact of Vatican II.
December 30, 2017
A valuable story about Pope John XXIII (Angelo Roncalli) and the history of the Vatican Council II. I was amazed as I not aware of the circumstances of how the Vatican Council II came about and who was responsible for it. I'm so glad I found this book. I think every Catholic should read it and know how this pope and the VCII changed how we practice our faith and also, in my opinion, brought our faith out of the dark ages, so to speak. Pope John XXIII was a very humble and beautiful person, and also a diplomat who was a key player in a couple of historical events of the secular world. A fascinating book I'd recommend to not only Catholics, but to anyone who is fascinated with historical events.
September 22, 2014
The book served as both a short biography on Pope St. John XXIII as well as an informative writing on the Vatican II Council. I quite enjoyed reading the novel. A nice background on the early life, how a farmer turned priest turned diplomat became Pope, and major things he did during his papacy. In terms of Vatican II we learn just how troublesome it was as the Bishops were having troubles coming to agreements on anything, but in the end compromises were made. Overall it was an enlightening novel and hammered out in about three days. I even almost cried as Pope John lied dieing. Even after fifty years his works still have the power to touch lives.
August 23, 2014
Wow, this book relates the strong force that Blessed Pope John XXIII was in bringing the changes of Vatican II to the Church and the world! His simple beginnings in the farm country of northern Italy to his assignments as a 'diplomat' in various countries to his almost 5 years as Pope; this book relates all of this in a moving way. (It also related his influence in helping to defuse the Cuban Missile crisis, something I never heard about.) The 2nd to last chapter is a very moving account of Pope John's last hours; it draws forth emotions, even 50+ years later! I feel like now I need to read more about and from this historic Pope, a saint in our times!
January 2, 2017
Wow, this book relates the strong force that Blessed Pope John XXIII was in bringing the changes of Vatican II to the Church and the world! His simple beginnings in the farm country of northern Italy to his assignments as a 'diplomat' in various countries to his almost 5 years as Pope; this book relates all of this in a moving way. (It also related his influence in helping to defuse the Cuban Missile crisis, something I never heard about.) The 2nd to last chapter is a very moving account of Pope John's last hours; it draws forth emotions, even 50+ years later! I feel like now I need to read more about and from this historic Pope, a saint in our times!
February 5, 2013
Very enjoyable book about the man who rose from very humble beginnings to become the worldwide leader of the Catholic church. Pope John's ecumenical spirit should be a lesson for us all. I do wish the author had included at least a few pictures. He also could have done a better job of explaining some of the terms (especially the Latin ones) used throughout the book. Not everyone who reads the book will be Catholic and not all Catholics are familiar with the hierarchy and inner-workings of the church.
October 30, 2014
Another excellent book by Tobin about the Catholic Church. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was the son of a poor Italian farmer. This biography makes a brief mention of his early life but does an excellent job of tracing his life in the Church from seminary to the his death as Pope John XXIII. The Second Vatican Council is covered as one of Pope John XXIII's triumphs and his struggle with cancer is also documented. This is an outstanding read.
April 29, 2017
Nice biography of Good Pope John XXIII. I especially like the description of the Vatican offices and city-state as of the early '60s. What keeps it from 5 stars is that the author had a tendency to speculate on how John would have dealt with problems within the current church such as the child abuse scandal.
July 18, 2013
3.5 I like the personal stories about Good Pope John best. Things like "Your holiness how many people work at the Vatican? About half." ...make me laugh and want to read my other biographies of him. Also, this made me want to pick up "Journal of a Soul" again.
November 18, 2012
Wonderful biography of the saintly Pope. He was not an intellectual but built his life and papacy upon charity and life experience.
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