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==Career==
==Career==
He was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the son of a farmer, in a poor village near Bergamo, in northern Italy. At the age of 11 he was sent to the Bergamo seminary and eight years later to the Pontifical Seminary in Rome. He graduated as a doctor of theology in 1904 and was ordained a priest. He was on the staff of the Bishop of Bergamo until he became a chaplain in the World War. He then taught at the Bergamo seminary and wrote several books of religious history, including a multivolume biography of St. Carlo Borromeo.
He was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the son of a farmer, in a poor village near Bergamo, in northern Italy. At the age of 11 he was sent to the Bergamo seminary and eight years later to the Pontifical Seminary in Rome. He graduated as a doctor of theology in 1904 and was ordained a priest. He was on the staff of the Bishop of Bergamo until he became a chaplain in the World War. He then taught at the Bergamo seminary and wrote several books of religious history, including a multivolume biography of St. Charles Borromeo, who became his role model as an ideal bishop.
In 1921 Father Roncalli was called to Rome by [[Pope Benedict XV]] to work with the missionary organization, the [[Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith]], which he helped reorganize.
==Diplomat==
==Diplomat==
His brilliant diplomatic career began in 1925 when [[Pope Pius XI]] made him archbishop and apostolic visitor to Bulgaria. In 1934 he moved to Istanbul as apostolic delegate to [[Turkey]] and [[Greece]]. His pastoral initiatives and his ecumenical approach, particularly to the Greek Orthodox Church, combined with his diplomatic activities were of fundamental importance to the development of his thinking and as experimentation for the many innovations he implemented during his pontificate.
His brilliant diplomatic career began in 1925 when [[Pope Pius XI]] made him archbishop and apostolic visitor to Bulgaria. In 1934 he moved to Istanbul as apostolic delegate to [[Turkey]] and [[Greece]]. His pastoral initiatives and his ecumenical approach, particularly to the Greek Orthodox Church, combined with his diplomatic activities were of fundamental importance to the development of his thinking and as experimentation for the many innovations he implemented during his pontificate.