Pius IX Pope Date of Birth: 13.05.1792 Country: Italy

Biography of Pope Pius IX

Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, better known as Pope Pius IX, was a religious figure who held the position of Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for one of the longest periods in its history, from 1846 to 1878. Born on May 13, 1792, in Senigallia, Italy, Giovanni grew up in a noble family and studied in Volterra and Rome. In 1814, he had the opportunity to meet Pope Pius VII, which left a lasting impression on him.

At the age of 22, Giovanni joined the Papal Noble Guard, but his service was cut short due to his epilepsy. Determined to continue his religious studies, Giovanni sought the support of Pope Pius VII and was granted a high level of patronage. He continued his theological studies with great dedication and was eventually appointed as the head of the San Michele hospital in Rome.

In 1827, at the age of 35, Giovanni was appointed Archbishop of Spoleto. During his time in Spoleto, he gained a strong reputation among the masses by granting forgiveness to the rebels after the suppression of the revolution in Parma and Modena in 1831. He also showed great leadership during the aftermath of an earthquake that struck the region.

Giovanni's reputation and leadership qualities led to his promotion to cardinal in 1839. After the death of Pope Gregory XVI, the cardinals gathered to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. The political instability in Italy greatly influenced the elections, with a divide between liberals and conservatives within the council. The liberals rallied behind Giovanni, and on June 16, 1846, he was elected as Pope Pius IX.

Pope Pius IX faced challenging times during his pontificate, particularly in dealing with revolutionary movements and the unification of Italy. Initially adopting a more liberal approach, he released political prisoners and introduced a constitutional system in Rome. However, as the situation worsened with acts of terrorism and the threat of revolution, Pius shifted towards a conservative stance.

In 1848, Pius was forced to flee Rome due to political unrest. In 1870, the Papal States lost their independence and became part of Italy. Pius adamantly resisted the Italian government's attempts to control the Vatican financially, but his efforts were largely unsuccessful. He faced challenges in other countries as well, with varying degrees of support from Austria-Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Tuscany, Ecuador, Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti.

Pope Pius IX passed away shortly after the death of his long-time adversary, King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Learning of Victor Emmanuel's deteriorating health, Pius lifted all Church sanctions imposed on him. Pius survived Victor Emmanuel by only a month and died on February 7, 1878, from a heart attack triggered by an epileptic seizure.

The process of beatification, the recognition of Pius IX as a blessed, began in 1907 but faced delays and was finally completed in 2000. Today, many prominent church historians and journalists consider some of Pius's decisions highly questionable, but his legacy continues to impact the Catholic Church. For example, the collection of funds known as "Peter's Pence," which supports the Holy See, remains a significant source of income for the Vatican.