Saint Paul VI

Born near Brescia, Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father was a lawyer and editor, who eventually became a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was  involved in Catholic Action.

After ordination in 1920, Father Montini studied literature, philosophy, and canon law in Rome before he joined the Vatican Secretariat of State in 1924, where he worked for 30 years. In 1954, Father Montini was named archbishop of Milan. He called himself the "archbishop of the workers," visiting factories and overseeing the rebuilding of the local church, which was distrupted by World War II. 

Pope John XXIII named Father Montini a cardinal, and he helped to prepare Vatican II and participated in its first sessions. When Cardinal Montini was elected pope in June 1963, he decided to continue Vatican II, which had another three sessions before its conclusion on December 8, 1965. He worked to ensure that bishops would approve the Council’s 16 documents by overwhelming majorities.