Pope Paul VI
Giovanni Battista Montini became Pope Paul VI in 1963. He brought the Second Vatican Council to completion and led the Catholic Church through a period of institutional change and global travel.
From priest to pope
Montini was ordained a priest in 1920 and spent much of his career in Vatican diplomacy and administration. He became archbishop of Milan in 1954, was made a cardinal in 1958, and was elected pope in June 1963 after the death of John XXIII.
Council and legacy
Paul VI guided the final sessions of the Second Vatican Council and began implementing its decisions. He traveled internationally and issued major teaching documents on social questions, evangelization, and Church life. He remained pope until his death in 1978.
Birth data confidence · Date high · Time high · Place high · Birth certificate