St. John XXIII, October 11
Angelo Roncalli, the son of farmers from near Bergamo, was elected pope at 76 in 1958, expected to be a caretaker. Instead he called the Second Vatican Council, which opened on October 11, 1962. Known as “Good Pope John,” he was canonized in 2014.
On the General Roman Calendar, October 11 is an optional memorial: Saint John XXIII, pope.
October 11 on the calendar
October 11 is the 284th day of the year (the 285th in a leap year), with 81 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | Friday |
Keeping October 11
October 11 falls in October, the month of the rosary. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around October 11
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| October 8 | St. Pelagia |
| October 9 | St. Denis |
| October 10 | St. Daniel Comboni |
| October 12 | St. Wilfrid |
| October 13 | St. Edward the Confessor |
| October 14 | St. Callistus I |
The day before, October 10, is the day of St. Daniel Comboni. The day after, October 12, belongs to St. Wilfrid. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.