Saint19th–20th century · Feast May 29

St Paul VI

Also known as Pope Paul VI, Giovanni Battista Montini, Saint Paul VI

Pope

Bishop of Rome

The pope who brought the Second Vatican Council to completion and carried its reforms into a period of conflict and change.

A note on content. This profile is a prototype draft. Devotional traditions, historical facts and uncertain traditions will be clearly identified once entries are reviewed. We do not publish invented quotations.

The story of their life

The pope who brought the Second Vatican Council to completion and carried its reforms into a period of conflict and change. The 1960s and 1970s brought cultural upheaval, decolonisation, new communications and declining institutional trust.

Historical context

The 1960s and 1970s brought cultural upheaval, decolonisation, new communications and declining institutional trust.

Defining moments

Vatican diplomatic service
Becoming archbishop of Milan
Election as pope
Completing Vatican II
International travel
Post-conciliar leadership

Faith and spirituality

Discernment under criticism, dialogue and patient implementation.

Why this saint matters today

A strong companion for leaders implementing reforms they did not initiate and facing criticism from every side.

Patronage and intercession

People turn to St Paul VI in matters of:

Council implementation

Church communicators

Senior leaders

A prayer

God of grace, through the intercession of St Paul VI, guide us in truth, courage and love. Amen.

Timeline

Sources and further reading

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html
https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/

Source-quality status: unverified prototype