June 14, 2013

What was in the news on June 14, 1963?

The largest conclave in history set to open soon, and the last words of Pope John XXIII

Criterion logo from the 1960sBy Brandon A. Evans

This week, we continue to examine what was going on in the Church and the world 50 years ago as seen through the pages of The Criterion.

Here are some of the items found in the June 14, 1963, issue of The Criterion:

  • Largest conclave in history to open balloting June 20
    • “VATICAN CITY—The conclave of cardinals to elect a successor to Pope John XXIII will begin at 6 p.m. on June 19 in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Balloting will begin the following morning. It is expected to be the largest conclave in the history of the Church, with 82 cardinals eligible to attend and vote. Microphones will be used for the first time at a conclave. The Sistine Chapel will be wired for sound in much the same way as the ecumenical council hall, so that the cardinals and officials will not have to shout to be heard. The conclave date was set at the first general meeting of the cardinals following the death of Pope John. Church regulations require that a conclave open not less than 15 days and not more than 18 days after a pope’s death. Since the pope died on June 3, the cardinals could have chosen any date between June 18 and 21.”
  • Two million see remains of Pope John
  • Cardinal Cushing: Urges easing of laws on mixed marriages
  • ‘Old Smokey’ will again signal pope’s election
  • Dismas House founder to be DCCM speaker
  • 126 attend annual Vacation Bible School in Scottsburg parish
  • Report says pope began study of Russian
  • Extracts from the diary of Pope John
  • Princely Chigi family guards papal conclave
  • High U.S. officials at Capital Requiem
  • Pope’s secretary leaves Vatican
  • Rural life leader hails bracero program defeat
  • Look to pontiff’s goals, not tomb, cardinal urges
  • Predicts continuation of pontiff’s program
  • Newsmen to view conclave area
  • Last words
    • “VATICAN CITY—‘My mother,’ were His Holiness Pope John XXIII’s very last words. The prayer, ‘That all may be one,’ were the last audible words spoken by the pontiff, but as Bishop Alfredo Cavagna, the pope’s confessor, bent over him at his last moment of life, he heard him whisper: ‘My mother.’ … Shortly afterward, the pope was dead.”
  • Nun pharmacist takes many honors
  • Lyndon B. Johnson at pontiff’s rites
  • Corpus Christi rallies slated at three sites
  • Editors debate U.S. space program value
  • To his family: Pope John’s last letter
  • Site of permanent tomb for pope is undecided

(Read all of these stories from our June 14, 1963, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

Local site Links: