The representative of the highest spiritual authority of the earth is glad, indeed boasts, of being the son of a humble but robust and honest laborer.

In this statement John XXIII underscores a deliberate contrast between the Church’s lofty spiritual office and the pope’s own ordinary social origins. By stressing that the “highest spiritual authority” can openly “boast” of being a laborer’s son, he frames humility not as embarrassment but as a credential: moral solidity, honesty, and physical work are presented as compatible with—甚至 foundational to—spiritual leadership. The line also functions as a quiet critique of elitism, implying that dignity and authority need not rest on aristocratic pedigree. It aligns with John XXIII’s public image as a pastorally minded pope who emphasized simplicity, human warmth, and the Church’s closeness to everyday people.