Pius

374S

Pius

 

Francesco Tedeschini Piccolomini, nephew of
Pius n.
Pius iv. (1559-65), Giovanni Angclo de'
Medici, was born in Milan in 1499. He was
pope during the final sittings of the Council
of Trent (1562-4), and during the last ses-
sions of the council won over the Emperor
Ferdinand i. and the Cardinal of Lorraine
to his views. Pius iv. has given his name to
the famous 'Profession of Faith,' which is im-
posed on all taking ecclesiastical office, and is
used in the reception of converts into the
Roman Catholic Church. He founded the
pontifical printing office.
Pius v. (1566-72), Michele Ghisleri, was
born in Bosco, Lombardy, in 1504. On his
accession he severely enforced the Tridentine
degrees, and during his papacy the counter-
re formation made prodigious efforts He is-
sued the famous butf of excommunication
against Elizabeth oi England (1570), and
warmly espoused the cause oi Mary, Queen
of Scots, thereby deepening the chasm be-
tween England and Roman Catholicism. But
it is chiefly in connection with hit- inflexible
opposition to the Turkish power that his
name is remembered. In 1712 he was can-
onized, being the last pope to receive that dis-
tinction.
Pius vi. (1775-99), Giovanni Angelo Bras-
chi, was born in Cesena in 1717, and was
promoted by Benedict xiv. He was elected
pope in successtion to Clement xiv. He op-
posed the ecclesiastical policy of Emperor
Joseph nv excommunicated Talleyrand, and
was involved in France through his refusal
to accept the civil constitution of the clergy.
He created the see of Baltimore, the first
Roman Catholic diocese In the United States,
Pius vn. (1820-23), Barnabas Luigi, Count
Chiaramonti, was born in Cesena in 1742.
He was allowed to enter Rome in 1801, the
French troops being withdrawn. In that year
he made the Concordat with Napoleon, who
was anxious to restore religion in France; and
in 1804 he consecrated Napoleon as emperor.
In 1809, however, Rome itself and all the
territory which had not already been taken
were annexed to the French empire. The is-
sue of a bull of excommunication was fol-
lowed by the icmoval of the pope to Gren-
oble, and thence to Savona and Fontaine-
blcau. The Congress of Vienna formally re-
stored to him his territory.
Pius vm, (1829-30) > Francesco Xaverio,
Count Castiglione,
Pius rx. (1846-78), Giovanni Maria, Count

Mastai Ferrettl,, was born in Sinigaglia in
1792. In 1854 Pius promulgated the doc-
trine of the Immaculate Conception, and in
1870 that of Papal Infallibility, He also re-
established the Roman Catholic hierarchy in
England (1850). In 1864 he issued a Sylla-
bus Errorum.
pitts x. (1903-14) (Giuseppe Sarto), was
born of humble parents at Riesc, near Ven-
ice, in 1835. In August, 1903, he was elected
pope, after six fruitless ballots. The prin-
cipal events of his reign were the separation
of church and state in France and Portugal.
The Syllabus issued by him in 1907 contained
a list of 65 condemned propositions, dealing
chiefly with extreme and radical positions
taken by certain modern writers on matters
pertaining to Christian belief, Biblical crit;-
cism, theology, church discipline, etc. By his
Nt1 Temere decree of 1907, aimed at clan-
destine and irregular marriages, the Catholic
Church recognizes as valid only those mar-
riages contracted before the parish priest or
ordinary, and at least two witnesses. Among
important measures inaugurated by him were
the codification of the canon law and the
simplification of church music.
Pius xl (1922-1939) (Achille Ratti), was
born in Descio, in 1858. After studying in
the diocesan seminaries, he went to Lombard
College in Rome, obtaining doctor's degrees.
He was ordained a priest in 1878, and from
1882 to 1888 was professor of dogmatic the-
ology and sacred eloquence in the seminary
of his diocese. He was called to the Vatican
to be assistant prefect of the library in 1911,
and two years later became prefect. In 1918
he was appointed Papal Nuncio to Warsaw,
in 1919 was made Archbishop of Lepanto,
and in 1921 Archbishop of Milan. He was
created cardinal, 1921, and succeeded Pope
Benedict xv. as Pius xr., Feb. 6, 1922. His
greatest accomplishment as pope was the
Lateran Treaty with Italy, 1929, which re-
stored the sovereign temporal power of the
papacy,
Pius xn. (1939- ) (Eugenio Pacelli),
was born in Rome in 1876. He is a distin-
guished scholar, speaking nine languages,
Rising rapidly as a priest, he was Nuncio at
Munich during the World War. Continuing
in the diplomatic service of the Church, he
was made cardinal in 1929, became Vatican
Secretary of State two months later and
capably served as such until his election to
the papacy on his 6srd birthday, March 6,
1039- He has travelled more widely than