Catechetical Saints: Blessed Pius IX and John XXIII

Catechists can learn from two Popes, beatified together by John Paul II: each called a Council; each loved Tradition; each wanted the Faith to reach today’s new audience. During the Jubilee year, John Paul II beatified two of his predecessors: Pius IX and John XXIII. He said, ‘By divine design their beatification links these two popes who lived in very different historical contexts, but beyond appearances, share many human and spiritual similarities.’ Each of these Popes called an Ecumenical (universal) Council of the Church: Pius IX called Vatican I and John XXIII called Vatican II. Each of these Popes can be seen as deeply concerned to ensure both continuity with the past, within a dynamic sense of Tradition, and were also preoccupied in how to meet the challenges presented by their contemporary situations.