On the wall of the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, there is a Latin document which bears the heading, “John, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God.” It is the apostolic letter from Pope John which raised Atlanta from a diocese to an archdiocese in February, 1962. It serves as a daily reminder that the brief pontificate of the great man who has just died was a deeply significant time for the Church in northern Georgia.

There are thousands of dioceses, and many archdioceses, in the Catholic world which Pope John governed. Yet this good shepherd was aware of Atlanta, not just as a great American city, but as a vital part of Christ’s Kingdom. To St. Peter, Our Lord said “Confirm thy brethren…feed my lambs…feed my sheep.” Atlanta is new as an archdiocese, and small in Catholic population, but its brethren were confirmed, the sheep and lambs nourished.

In 1959, Pope John named as domestic prelate, worthy of papal honor, these priests of our diocese: Right Reverend Cornelius L. Maloney and Right Reverend Michael J. Reagan and in 1960, Right Reverend James E. King. In addition the Reverend Henry E. Phillips was awarded the cross: “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”.

In 1961, he named Bishop Francis E. Hyland, our first bishop, an assistant to the Papal Throne, an honor in keeping with these great prelates’ remarkable record of accomplishment.

In 1959, Pope John gave papal honors to these laymen: Clarence Haverty and Hughes Spalding, Sr. “Private Chamberlains of the Sword and Cape”, Mrs. Malcolm Bryan: “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”; in 1960, Mrs. Charlene Thomas, James Homer Bennett and Henry Yancey: “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”.

In 1962, Atlanta was raised to archdiocesan rank, the metropolitan See of a Province including four southeastern states. The pope’s representative, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, apostolic delegate to the United States came to Atlanta to execute the Decree of Erection, and to install the new archbishop.

In the same year, a request from this archdiocese that vicars general be permitted to administer confirmation during the Council was broadened into a universal permission.

On May 1st, 1963, in one of his last audiences, he sent, through the Archbishop of Atlanta, his blessings to the clergy, religious and laity of the archdiocese.

In the wide Catholic world, there is no acre of land so distant from Rome to be forgotten. Since 1958, this has been especially true, because St. Peter’s successor, Pope John had a heart as great as the Church he served.