"Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways - women, gambling and farming. My family chose the slowest one." John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli) was born to landless peasants in the Italian Alps. He was pope from 1958 to 1963 and his amiability and wit made him one of the most beloved popes in history. Pope John XXIII's dedication to peace, led to his successful mediation during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and to friendly contacts with Premier Khrushchev of the Soviet Union. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) conceived and initiated by John XXIII to reawaken the church, affected the Catholic church more than any event since the Protestant Reformation.
