May 16, 1955: A Photograph with a Blessing Signed by Archbishop Giovanni Montini

This is a  very unique photo and blessing of Pope Paul VI while he was the Archbishop of Milan. It is dated May 16th, 1955. His actual baptismal name, Giovanni Battista Montini is used.

There are three lines written in his own hand on this photograph. It is a blessing for a priest’s twenty-fifth anniversary.

This unique portrait of him, prior to his pontificate, is the only one Father Kunst has seen like it for Paul VI.

When referring to a blessing, these are normally photos of a pope with fancy calligraphy by another hand. They are then signed by the pope with a few extra lines written in their own hand as is the case with this one.

Pope Francis approved the promulgation of the decree for the cause of beatification of his predecessor, Pope Paul VI.   The beatification ceremony took place on  October 19, 2014, at the conclusion of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family.

And the canonization of Paul VI took place on October 14, 2018.

All items associated with Pope Paul VI take on even greater relevance because of  his canonization. 

Please pray with us in gratitude for the gift of his life to our Church.

Pope St. Paul VI, pray for us!