Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX, born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti, was the head of the Catholic Church from 16 June 1846 until his death in February 1878. His time as pope lasted nearly 32 years, the longest known in history for any pope.

He started as a reformer, easing rules for Jewish people and forgiving revolutionaries. But after troubles in 1848, his views changed. He became more conservative and made strong statements against new ideas about government and religion.

In 1854, he declared that Mary, the Mother of God, was born without sin. In 1868, he called the First Vatican Council, where leaders agreed that the pope could not make mistakes on certain important matters. Sadly, when soldiers from the Kingdom of Italy took over Rome in 1870, he stayed inside the Vatican City, calling himself a "prisoner in the Vatican".

Pope Pius IX also asked for help from people around the world, which brought in money known as Peter's Pence. Later, Pope John Paul II honored him as a holy person in the year 2000.

Early life and ministry

The birthplace house of Pius IX in Senigallia

Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti was born on 13 May 1792 in Senigallia. He grew up in a noble family and was educated at the Piarist College in Volterra and in Rome.

In 1814, he met Pope Pius VII. He became a priest in 1819 and worked in Rome. Later, he was sent to help organize the Catholic Church in Chile, but the mission was unsuccessful. He returned to Rome and held several important church positions, becoming known for helping prisoners and street children. He was made a cardinal and became known for supporting changes and helping people in need.

Election

Main article: 1846 papal conclave

Illustration of Pope Pius IX shortly after his election to the papacy in 1846

The conclave in 1846 happened after the death of Pope Gregory XVI. During this time, Italy was going through big changes, and the leaders who chose the next pope were divided into two groups. Some wanted to keep things the same, while others wanted changes.

One man, Mastai-Ferretti, got many votes even though he was not the first choice of everyone. After several rounds of voting, he was chosen to be the new pope on June 16, 1846. He picked the name Pius IX to honor an earlier pope who had supported him when he was young. Many people were happy about his choice because they thought he would bring good changes.

Papacy

Cardinal Mastai-Ferretti became Pope Pius IX in 1846. Many hoped he would bring change and new ideas, especially for Italy’s freedom. But later, he surprised everyone by becoming very strict and traditional, which upset those who had supported him.

Pius IX in audience with King Francis II of the Two Sicilies in 1862

One big change during his time as pope was the end of the Papal States, which were lands ruled by the pope in the middle of Italy. He worked hard to bring more power to the pope and the church in Rome. A very important event was the First Vatican Council in 1869–1870. This meeting helped make sure that the pope’s decisions were final in matters of faith and church rules.

Pope Pius IX also worked to protect the church’s rights in different countries. He celebrated special church events, like the 300th anniversary of an important church meeting and the 1,800th anniversary of two important early church leaders’ deaths. He also made many new church leaders, called cardinals, during his time as pope. He also recognized many holy people as saints and honored others for their good works.

Sovereignty of the Papal States

Main article: Papal States under Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX was not only the leader of the Catholic Church but also the ruler of the Papal States until 1870. He was sometimes called a "king," though it is unclear if the Church ever fully accepted this title. Some people praised his rule as wise and fair, but others disagreed.

At first, Pius IX was very popular in Italy because of his liberal ideas. He appointed skilled leaders and worked to improve farming, trade, and transportation. He also made some changes to help Jewish people live more freely. However, after some political troubles, he made fewer changes and focused more on traditional Catholic beliefs.

Pius IX supported artists and worked to protect important buildings like the Colosseum in Rome. He also created groups to manage money and improve the economy. Despite these efforts, the justice system still had problems, and criminal groups sometimes threatened travelers.

Reforms in the Papal States

Pius IX’s early policies made him popular. He improved farming methods and freed political prisoners, which surprised many leaders in other countries. He also ended some unfair rules against Jewish people and opened up charities to everyone in need.

Pope Pius IX as depicted in Harper's Weekly in 1867

Governmental structure

In 1848, Pius IX introduced a new constitution for the Papal States. The government included both church leaders and ordinary people, but church leaders had a strong influence on important decisions.

Finance

Pius IX created a new group to manage money in the Papal States. In 1866, the Papal States joined a monetary union and changed its currency to the papal lira.

Commerce and trade

Pius IX encouraged local producers of wool, silk, and other goods. He also built roads, bridges, and seaports to improve trade. Railways were built to connect the Papal States with northern Italy.

Justice

The justice system in the Papal States faced criticism. Laws were unclear, and judges were sometimes accused of favoring certain people. Criminal groups also posed problems for travelers and trade.

Military

Papal soldiers around 1860

The Papal army had about 15,000 soldiers. The Pope also had a special guard called the Swiss Guard for personal protection.

Universities

Pius IX wanted to improve education. He created a commission to reform universities and supported a school in Rome for studying international law and peace.

Arts

Pius IX supported artists and architects. He worked to protect and improve important buildings, including churches and ancient sites like the Colosseum and the Catacombs of Rome.

Jews

The Papal States were a place where the Catholic Church had more power than other religions. Early in his time as pope, Pius allowed Jewish people to live outside the crowded ghetto in Rome. However, after returning from exile in 1850, he changed these rules and again confined Jewish people to the ghetto.

In a famous incident in 1858, a young Jewish boy named Edgardo Mortara was taken from his family. A Christian servant claimed she had secretly baptized him when he was very ill. Because of this, the boy was considered a Christian and could not be raised by his Jewish parents. This event caused anger among many people and hurt the pope’s reputation.

Policies toward other nations

Pius IX in 1847

Pope Pius IX was the last pope who also ruled the Papal States, leading about three million people from 1846 until 1870. The Kingdom of Italy took over the Papal States in that year. The disagreement between Italy and the Pope was settled in 1929 with a treaty that created Vatican City as an independent place for the Pope.

Pius IX made many changes in different countries. In Italy, he first freed people who were in prison for their political beliefs, but later faced big challenges when people wanted more changes and unification of Italy. In Mexico, he supported leaders who wanted help from the church during a difficult time. In England and Wales, he re-established the Catholic Church’s leadership after laws changed. He also helped during a big hunger time in Ireland and made changes in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States. In the United States, he supported peace during the Civil War and later made the first American join a special group of important church leaders. He also increased the number of church areas in Canada and signed important agreements with many countries including Spain, Austria, Portugal, and others. In Germany, there were strong efforts to limit the power of the Catholic Church, which led to many debates and actions from both sides.

Plans to leave Rome

Pope Pius IX thought about leaving Rome several times during his time as leader of the Catholic Church. In 1848, during a rebellion, he went to Gaeta in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies but came back in 1850. Later, in 1862, when soldiers were moving toward Rome, he asked if he could stay safe in England, and was told he would be welcome if needed. In 1870, after Rome was captured, he also asked if he could be granted safety in Prussia, but this plan was not possible.

Theology

Main article: Theology of Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX strongly believed that the pope was the main teaching leader in the church. This idea was clearly shown when the First Vatican Council defined the dogma of Papal infallibility in 1870.

Main article: List of encyclicals of Pope Pius IX

Pius IX wrote 38 important letters called encyclicals. Some of these letters talked about faith, helping Ireland, and caring for churches and clergy. He used these letters to share his views and point out what he thought were mistakes.

Main article: First Vatican Council

Pius IX made a big decision about a long-standing disagreement between two groups regarding the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This decision led to discussions about whether a pope can make such important choices without the help of bishops. This idea of papal infallibility was a main topic at the First Vatican Council, which started in 1869.

Pius IX also started many new church groups for women and helped create new church areas in France and other countries. He supported groups that aimed to share the Catholic faith with people who were not part of the church.

Later years and death

In his later years, Pope Pius IX faced health challenges, including skin problems and painful sores on his legs. Despite this, he continued to hold daily services and spent much of his time in his library with church leaders. By December, his health improved enough for him to walk again.

In February 1878, his health worsened due to a chest infection, a fall, and a rising fever. He remained cheerful, even joking about his situation. He forgave his old rival, Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, before passing away on February 7, 1878, at the age of 85. His death marked the end of one of the longest periods of leadership in church history.

Beatification

The process to honor Pope Pius IX began in 1907 but faced strong opposition from the Italian government. Later, without this opposition, Pope John Paul II recognized Pius IX for his virtuous life in 1985 and officially honored him in the Church in 2000. Some people, including some Jews and Christians, disagreed with this decision due to concerns about his leadership style and some past decisions, including attitudes toward others.

Legacy

Pope Pius IX had a very long time as the leader of the Catholic Church, celebrating a special 25-year moment in 1871. His time as pope changed the Church, making it more focused on spiritual matters rather than controlling land. He made important decisions, like declaring the Immaculate Conception and starting the First Vatican Council, which talked about the pope's role.

Pius IX started with more open ideas but became more careful after some hard times. Even though he had trouble with some countries, many people stayed loyal to him. He helped start new groups within the Church and supported the creation of the Salesian Society. He also liked new technology, helping build railroads and bring gas lighting and the electrical telegraph to where he lived. Many places around the world are named after him today.

Episcopal lineage

Pope Pius IX belonged to a special line of church leaders called apostolic succession. This line shows who gave special blessings to the next person, going back many years. The list of leaders in this line includes several important church figures, ending with Pope Pius IX himself.

The leaders in this line were: