November 2025 – Page 58 – Antipope John XXIII

St. Leo the Great in traditional papal vestments with a scroll, juxtaposed against a shadowy figure representing antipope John XXIII and conciliar subversion.

Aeterna Dei sapientia (1961.11.11)

amdg / 2025-11-09

The text presented is the Latin encyclical “Aeterna Dei sapientia” of antipope John XXIII, issued 11 November 1961 on the 15th centenary of the death of St Leo the Great. It praises St Leo I as pope, doctor, defender of Christological orthodoxy and of Roman primacy, and uses his figure as a theological and rhetorical platform to prepare and legitimize the convocation of the so‑called Second Vatican Council and to promote a program of “visible unity” among all who bear the Christian name. The entire document culminates in the claim that the same faith, the same worship, and the same obedience to the Roman See require “all Christians” to converge toward one fold under one visible head, with Vatican II presented as the privileged instrument of this restoration of unity.

A Catholic missionary priest in traditional vestments stands before a group of African and Asian bishops and laity in a tropical mission church, symbolizing the deceptive 'indigenous clergy' narrative of Princeps Pastorum.

Encyclical Letters

Princeps Pastorum (1959.11.28)

amdg / 2025-11-09

Princeps Pastorum is presented as an encyclical of John XXIII on Catholic missions, celebrating forty years since Benedict XV’s Maximum illud, praising the growth of “indigenous clergy” and laity, urging adaptation to local cultures, promotion of Catholic Action, social initiatives, and collaboration between missionaries and emerging local hierarchies, all under the banner of a universal, pacifying, and “non-foreign” Church presence. Behind this language, the text systematically instrumentalizes the missions as a vehicle of the coming conciliar revolution, diluting the supernatural end of the Church into sociological development and preparing a humanistic, de-clericalized, democratized “missionary” neo-church: this is its core betrayal.

A traditional Catholic family kneeling in prayer before a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, symbolizing devotion and the importance of Marian intercession.

Encyclical Letters

Grata Recordatio (1959.09.26)

amdg / 2025-11-09

The text under review, issued by antipope John XXIII under the title “Grata Recordatio,” recalls with sentimental warmth the rosary encyclicals of Leo XIII, exhorts the faithful to recite the Marian rosary especially in October, commemorates the death of Pius XII and the election of John XXIII as an alleged sign of continuity of the Roman Pontificate, praises missionary initiatives and a North American seminary, calls political leaders to avoid war and respect “legitimate rights,” condemns laicism and materialism in generic terms, and finally asks for prayers for the “Roman Synod” and the upcoming “ecumenical council,” presented as a source of renewal and growth of the “Church.” Beneath this apparently pious Marian varnish, the document functions as a programmatic prelude to the conciliar revolution: it uses orthodox forms to introduce a new ecclesiology, a humanistic pacifism, and a deceptive claim of continuity that prepares the self-destruction of the visible Church.

St. John Mary Vianney surrounded by devout priests in a traditional Catholic church setting, emphasizing priestly virtues and Eucharistic devotion.

Encyclical Letters

Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (1959.08.01)

amdg / 2025-11-09

The document under review is the Latin encyclical “Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia” (1 August 1959), issued by the usurper antipope John XXIII to commemorate the centenary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney. It praises the Curé of Ars as a model of priestly asceticism, poverty, chastity, obedience, Eucharistic devotion, prayer, and pastoral zeal, and exhorts clergy worldwide to imitate his virtues, stressing continual prayer, sacramental ministry (especially confession), catechesis, and personal holiness as the foundation of apostolic fruitfulness. Beneath the apparently edifying homage, the text functions as a pious cosmetic veil preparing and legitimizing the impending conciliar revolution by selectively appropriating pre-1958 doctrine while silently relocating the center of gravity from the immutable Roman Faith to a new anthropocentric, conciliatory, and ultimately modernist vision of priesthood and Church.

Pope John XXIII in traditional vestments before a grand cathedral, symbolizing the themes of truth unity and peace in the encyclical Ad Petri Cathedram.

Encyclical Letters

Ad Petri cathedram (1959.06.29)

amdg / 2025-11-09

Ad Petri cathedram, the first encyclical of John XXIII, outlines three main themes: “truth,” “unity,” and “peace,” presented as the programmatic framework for his reign and for the announced “ecumenical council,” canonical reform, and global outreach. Beneath a superficially pious language and selective citations of prior popes, it subtly redefines truth into a common denominator accessible to all, dilutes the obligation of conversion, transforms ecclesial unity into an invitation to horizontal reconciliation, and portrays peace as a naturalistic consensus among nations and classes—thus serving as a manifesto of the conciliar revolution and a direct prelude to the systematic demolition of integral Catholic doctrine.

A reverent depiction of Angelo Roncalli addressing the Canons Regular of St Augustine in a traditional Catholic chapel.

Speeches

Allocutio Ioannis XXIII ad Canonicos Regulares (1959.05.26)

amdg / 2025-11-09

In this brief allocution of 26 May 1959, Angelo Roncalli (John XXIII) addresses the Canons Regular of St Augustine on the occasion of the federation of their four congregations, recalling Nicholas II’s confirmation of their institute, invoking the memory of St George in Alga with its “two splendid lights” Eugenius IV and St Lawrence Giustiniani, commending their Augustinian heritage, and exhorting them to unity, charity, and fervour in religious observance under their newly constituted federation and primatial abbot.

Catholic bishop delivering an allocution to international scholars in Rome, 1959.

Speeches

Allocutio Ioannis XXIII (1959.04.07) Ciceronian Humanism Against the Kingship of Christ

amdg / 2025-11-09

The text is a brief allocution by John XXIII to participants of an international Ciceronian congress in Rome (April 7, 1959). He courteously praises their dedication to Cicero and classical Latin, deplores the neglect of such studies in a technocratic age, extols ancient wisdom as a noble preparation for higher things, and cites Augustine’s praise of Cicero’s “Hortensius” as an example of moral elevation through classical reading. He concludes with paternal good wishes.

A realistic depiction of Pope John XXIII addressing delegates of the Federation of Catholic Universities in 1959.

Speeches

Allocutio Ioannis XXIII ad Universitates Catholicas (1959.04.01)

amdg / 2025-11-09

John XXIII’s 1 April 1959 allocution to the leaders and delegates of the Federation of Catholic Universities is a brief address that: warmly flatters their academic mission; praises their international coordination as a force for “truth” in civil society; urges them to combat materialism; insists on the search for unity of knowledge grounded in philosophy, theology, and in Christ; and explicitly links their work to his project of convening an “ecumenical council,” presented as a spectacle of unity meant to invite “separated brethren” back to the fold under the primacy of Peter. In other words, beneath its pious citations and Augustinian ornaments, this text is the programmatic sketch of a new, diplomatic, humanistic religion in which universities and a coming council become instruments for restructuring doctrine under the banner of irenic “unity,” preparatory to the conciliar revolution that would enthrone man in place of Christ the King.

A traditional Catholic depiction of John XXIII delivering an allocution in the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1959, highlighting the themes of academic prestige and theological drift.

Speeches

Allocutio ad Gregorianam: Manifesto of the Conciliar Intellectual Revolution (1959.01.18)

amdg / 2025-11-09

On 18 January 1959, in the Great Hall of the Pontifical Gregorian University, John XXIII delivered an allocution praising the institution as a privileged center of ecclesiastical science, exalting its title “Pontifical University Gregorian,” extolling its universality, its historical roots in Gregory XIII and the Jesuits, and its role in forming heralds of Christ’s kingdom adapted to the needs of the time. He weaves together Petrine symbolism, academic expansion, international composition, post‑Tridentine glory, and modern pastoral optimism to confirm and bless the Gregorian’s mission as a premier organ of Roman teaching authority.

Pope John XXIII delivering his secret consistory allocution in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on December 15, 1958.

Speeches

Allocutio Ioannis XXIII Inaugurating the Conciliar Oligarchy (1958.12.15)

amdg / 2025-11-09

John XXIII’s “secret consistory” allocution of December 15, 1958, outwardly presents itself as a pious, ceremonial address: gratitude for congratulations on his “election,” sentimental references to the “universal Christian community,” mention of persecutions in China, an expression of sorrow for illicit consecrations, and, most substantially, the creation of twenty-three new “cardinals,” including Giovanni Battista Montini and other future protagonists of the conciliar revolution. Behind this ornate facade stands the programmatic consolidation of a new regime: a sentimental humanistic papacy that instrumentalizes genuine sufferings (China) while carefully preparing the structural apparatus that will soon overthrow in practice the social Kingship of Christ, doctrine, worship, and discipline defined infallibly before 1958.