Key dates in the life of Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the Second Vatican Council, was elevated to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday by Pope Francis. Here are some major events in his  life.

- Nov. 25, 1881 - Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, one of 13
children of a tenant farmer in the village of Sotto il Monte in
northern Italy.

- Aug. 10, 1904 - After serving in the army, he was
ordained a priest and later served as the secretary to the
bishop of Bergamo.

- 1914-1918 - Served as hospital orderly and later chaplain
during World War One.

- 1925 - Entered the Vatican's diplomatic service, appointed
apostolic visitor to Bulgaria

- 1935 - Transferred to Istanbul, from where, during the war
years, he helped Jews in Hungary and other countries to get
false certificates enabling them to escape the Holocaust.

- Dec. 22, 1944: Named Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador) to
France.

- Jan. 12, 1953 - Pope Pius XII elevates him to the rank of
cardinal and names him patriarch of Venice.

- Oct. 28, 1958: Elected pope after many ballots, a
compromise candidate.

- Jan. 29, 1959: Calls the Second Vatican Council to
modernise the Church.

- Oct. 11, 1962: Second Vatican Council starts.

- June 3, 1963: Dies after a battle with stomach cancer.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Stephen Powell and
Alison Williams)