Christianity

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, born 25 November 1881 in Italy

Mater et Magistra (1961, "Mother and Teacher") and Pacem in Terris (1963, "Peace on Earth")

20th-century challenges like economic inequality, rural decline, and the need for international solidarity, emphasising human dignity, just wages, and the state's role in social welfare

That universal peace must be built upon four pillars: truth, justice, charity and freedom, advocating for human dignity, nuclear disarmament and international cooperation

An Italian term meaning "bringing up to date," used by Pope John XXIII to refer to his goal of ensuring the pastoral renewal of the Catholic Church

The 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, called by Pope John XXIII in 1962 to renew and modernise the Church, promote Christian unity, and address modern world changes

Triumphalism, clericalism and juridicism

A Vatican II declaration examining the Catholic Church's relationship with non-Christian religions; its key theme is interfaith dialogue. It rejects anti-Semitism and affirms the equal dignity of all humanity

A Vatican II decree that opened the Church to dialogue with other Christian denominations; its key theme is ecumenism. It focuses on what unites all Christians and recognises division hurts all

Reconciliation between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches through the Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration, which revoked the 1054 anathemas

The first Vatican II document, focused on aggiornamento in the liturgy. It allowed the use of vernacular (local) languages instead of Latin and promoted active participation of the congregation in Mass

A Vatican II document that shifted the Church's self-understanding from a hierarchical view to "the people of God," fostering a more communal understanding of the Church

A key Vatican II document meaning "The Joys and Hopes," which emphasised that the Church is part of the world, called to interpret the signs of the times and serve humanity through promoting justice and human dignity

God's Plan and the Natural Place of Death, Sanctity of Human Life, and Charity and Agape

Human life is sacred because everyone is made in the likeness of God, and thus all life should be nurtured and protected (supported by Gen 1:27 and Ex 20:13)

The highest form of love; sacrificial, enduring and unconditional in nature (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

The deliberate ending of a fetus by artificial means during pregnancy; most Christian denominations oppose it based on the sanctity of life, though some (e.g. Uniting Church) allow it in certain circumstances with compassion

The intentional ending of a person's life to relieve severe or terminal suffering ("mercy killing"); Christianity generally opposes it as only God has the right to end life, based on divine sovereignty and sanctity of life

"No one has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death" (Ecclesiastes 8:8), emphasising that the timing of death is in God's hands

A Christian sacrament using water — by pouring or immersion — to symbolise washing away sin, spiritual rebirth, and joining the church community; a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ

Immersion (Orthodox, Pentecostal), Affusion/pouring (Anglican), Aspersion/sprinkling (Catholic)

Credobaptism is adult believer's baptism (practised by Baptists); paedobaptism is infant baptism (practised by Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans)

Faith and enlightenment; it is given to parents and godparents with the words "Receive the light of Christ"

The minister baptises using the Trinitarian formula — "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" — showing God as three distinct persons in one, bringing the baptised into relationship with each

The cleansing water symbolises God's forgiveness of sin and washing away of the old life, while union with Christ in baptism signifies sharing in his death and resurrection and the promise of eternal life

Immersion in water represents dying to sin and burial with Christ; rising from the water symbolises sharing in Christ's resurrection and new life (Romans 6:4)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19)

He appealed publicly and privately for peace between Kennedy and Khrushchev and was internationally recognised with the Balzan Peace Prize for his behind-the-scenes role

He was beatified in 2000 and canonised in 2014