Saint Pope Paul VI (†1978) was head of the Catholic Church from 1963 to his death. Succeeding John XXIII, he continued the Second Vatican Council, which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms. Paul VI took charge of the interpretation and implementation of its mandates, finely balancing the conflicting expectations of various Catholic groups. The resulting reforms were among the widest and most profound in the Church's history. He fostered improved ecumenical relations with Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches. In January 1964, he flew to Jordan, the first time a reigning pontiff had left Italy in over a century. Paul VI spoke repeatedly at Marian conventions and Mariological meetings, visited Marian shrines, and issued three Marian encyclicals. Following Ambrose of Milan, he named Mary as the Mother of the Church during the Second Vatican Council. He described himself as a humble servant of suffering humanity. He demanded significant changes from the rich in North America and Europe in favor of the poor in the Third World. His opposition to birth control in the 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae was strongly contested, especially in Western Europe and North America. Pope Francis beatified Paul VI on 19 October 2014 and Pope Francis canonized him on 14 October 2018. His liturgical feast is celebrated on 29 May.