Pope Pius XI

Pope Pius XI, born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was the leader of the Catholic Church from 1922 until he passed away in 1939. He was also the first leader of Vatican City after it was created in 1929. During his time as Pope, he wrote many important letters called encyclicals. One of these letters talked about fair treatment of workers and another helped start a special holiday for Jesus called the feast of Christ the King.

Pius XI worked hard to make agreements between the Catholic Church and different countries. He also spoke out against unfair treatments of the Church in places like Mexico, Spain, and the Soviet Union. He helped make saints out of important people such as Thomas More and Bernadette of Lourdes. Near the end of his life, he bravely spoke against leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini to protect the Church.

When Pius XI died, his burial helped discover what are believed to be the bones of St. Peter.

Early life and career

Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti was born in Desio, near Milan, in 1857. He grew up in a family that owned a silk factory. After becoming a priest in 1879, he studied hard and earned three important degrees at the Gregorian University in Rome. He taught at a school in Padua and later worked at the Ambrosian Library in Milan, where he helped organize old books and papers.

Ratti loved the outdoors and climbed many tall mountains, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. In 1911, he began working for the Vatican Library, and in 1918, he was sent to help in Poland.

Nuncio to Poland and expulsion

In 1918, Ratti was asked to help in Poland after World War I. He worked there to support peace and understanding. However, some people in Poland and nearby areas did not agree with his actions, especially about how church leaders should stay out of politics. Because of this, he was asked to leave Poland in 1921.

Elevation to the papacy

Main article: 1922 papal conclave

In 1921, Ratti became a cardinal and the leader of the church in Milan. When Pope Benedict XV passed away in January 1922, church leaders met to choose a new pope. After many votes, they chose Ratti, who became Pope Pius XI. He chose his name to honor earlier popes he respected and to hope for peace. His first action as pope was to give a special blessing to everyone, showing his wish to work better with Italy’s government.

Public teaching

Early encyclical letters

Pope Pius XI’s first encyclical letter aimed to bring Christian values into everyday life in societies that were becoming more secular. His first encyclical, Ubi arcano, started the “Catholic Action” movement.

In later encyclicals, such as Divini illius magistri from 1929, he talked about the importance of Christian values in schools. Another encyclical, Casti connubii from 1930, celebrated Christian marriage and family life, while also talking about the importance of marriage in creating new life.

Political teachings

Unlike some earlier popes who preferred monarchies, Pius XI believed the Church could work with any kind of government—monarchy, republic, aristocracy, or democracy—as long as people’s rights and beliefs were respected.

Social teachings

Pius XI taught that economic and political life should be built on religious values. In Quadragesimo anno from 1931, he talked about the dangers of both socialism and uncontrolled capitalism. He believed that an economy should be based on working together and supporting each other.

He thought that mothers should focus on caring for their homes and families, and that fathers should earn enough to support their families without needing mothers to work outside the home. He also talked about the importance of private property for personal freedom, but said it should also help the community.

Pius XI was the first pope to use radio to share his messages with the world, starting Vatican Radio in 1931.

Internal Church affairs and ecumenism

Pope Pius XI continued many policies from his predecessor, focusing on spreading Catholicism in Africa and Asia. He encouraged missionary work by religious orders and supported serious scientific study within the Church by establishing the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences in 1936.

Pius XI was the first pope to directly address efforts to bring different Christian groups together. He was especially interested in reconnecting with the Eastern Orthodox and allowed talks with Anglicans. However, he believed the Catholic Church was the true Church of Christ and did not support broad federations of different Christian groups. He also encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Activities

Beatifications and canonizations

Main articles: List of people beatified by Pope Pius XI and List of saints canonized by Pope Pius XI

Pius XI recognized many holy people during his time as pope. He officially declared 34 saints, including Bernadette Soubirous, Thérèse of Lisieux, John Vianney, John Fisher, Thomas More, and John Bosco. He also recognized 464 others for their holy lives.

Pius XI also named several saints as important teachers of the Church, including Peter Canisius, John of the Cross, Robert Bellarmine, and Albert the Great.

Consistories

Main article: Cardinals created by Pius XI

Pius XI appointed 76 cardinals during his time as pope. Among them was Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII. Pius XI often held smaller gatherings to appoint new cardinals rather than large events, and he included more cardinals from outside of Italy than before.

International relations

The time when Pope Pius XI was leader of the Catholic Church was right after World War I. Many old monarchies in Europe had ended, and new governments were forming. In the east, the Soviet Union was created. In Italy, Benito Mussolini became a powerful leader, and in Germany, the government was unstable until Adolf Hitler took control.

During Pius XI's time as Pope, the Vatican was very active in international affairs. The Catholic Church improved its relationships with France and made an important agreement with Italy, creating an independent country called Vatican City.

Pius XI made many official agreements called concordats with different countries. However, these agreements did not always last, as Europe was entering a time when such treaties were not respected.

In the 1930s, Pius XI spoke out against the Nazi regime in Germany and against Mussolini's Italy when their policies became harsh. He wrote important messages called encyclicals challenging these governments and also spoke against anti-Jewish policies.

Relations with France

France had a government that did not support the Catholic Church, and the Church in France also did not support the government. A law in 1905 separated the Church and the state, which led to many religious schools closing and Church buildings becoming government property.

Pope Pius XI worked to improve the relationship between the Church and France. In 1924, some disagreements were settled, and both sides agreed to coexist peacefully.

In 1926, Pius XI spoke against a group called the Action Française because of their ideas that did not match Catholic teachings. This decision caused some disagreement within the Church.

Relations with Italy and the Lateran Treaties

Main article: Lateran Treaty

Pius XI wanted to end the disagreement between the Pope and the Italian government. For many years, Italy had taken over lands that belonged to the Pope, and the Popes had refused to recognize Italy as a country.

In 1929, Pius XI and the Italian leader Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaties. These treaties created Vatican City as an independent country, and Italy recognized Catholicism as its official religion. The treaties also provided money to the Vatican for past losses of Church property.

However, as Mussolini's government became more controlling, problems arose between the Vatican and Italy. Pius XI spoke out against the government's control over Church groups in 1931.

Relations with Germany and Austria

The Nazis in Germany did not support the Catholic Church. After Hitler came to power, the Church faced many difficulties. In 1933, an agreement called the Reich Concordat was signed, but the Nazis did not always follow its rules.

In 1937, Pope Pius XI wrote an encyclical called Mit brennender Sorge, criticizing the Nazis for their treatment of the Church and their ideas about race. This message was read in all Catholic churches in Germany.

In Austria, the Church had support from leaders who wanted to follow Catholic teachings, but when Austria was taken over by Nazi Germany in 1938, the Church faced severe persecution.

Relations with East Asia

During Pius XI's time, relations with East Asia focused on China and Japan. In 1922, he created a special position to support the Church in China. He also recognized a new state called Manchukuo after Japan's invasion of Manchuria.

Involvement with American efforts

Mother Katharine Drexel, who started a religious group to help Native Americans and African Americans, wrote to Pope Pius XI for support. He sent his blessing for her work.

Brazil

In 1930, Pius XI declared Our Lady of Aparecida as the Queen and Patroness of Brazil.

Persecution of Christians

Main articles: Persecution of Christians, Anti-Catholicism, and Anti-Christian sentiment

Pius XI faced difficult times for the Church in Mexico, Spain, and the Soviet Union.

Soviet Union

Main article: Holy See–Soviet Union relations

In the Soviet Union, the government persecuted Christians. Pius XI tried to negotiate with the Soviet government but stopped these efforts in 1927 when they did not succeed.

Mexico

See also: Cristero War

In Mexico, the government strongly opposed the Catholic Church, leading to the deaths of many priests and followers. Pius XI spoke out against these actions in 1926 and again in 1932.

Spain

In Spain, the new government in 1931 was against the Catholic Church, removing religious education from schools and expelling certain religious groups. Pius XI protested these actions in 1932.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Pope Pius XI welcomed a group of leaders from the Malankara Orthodox Church, including Mar Ivanios, to join together with the Catholic Church in 1930. Because of this, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church became fully united with the Bishop of Rome and the Catholic Church.

Condemnation of racism

The government in Italy did not follow Germany’s harsh laws against certain groups until 1938. At that time, Pope Pius XI spoke out publicly, urging Italy not to adopt these unfair rules. He explained that all people are part of one human family, comparing our differences to the varied notes in music. He also stood up for the Church, which was facing attacks from the government.

Pope Pius XI wanted to write a special message called Humani generis unitas to strongly speak against unfair treatment of people based on their background. He asked a priest from the United States to help write it. However, the message was not finished before the Pope passed away. His successor used some of its ideas in a later message.

Personality

Pope Pius XI was known as a straightforward and serious person, much like Pope Pius X. He loved science and was very interested in the power of radio, which led to the creation of Vatican Radio. He was excited about new technologies and used them during his time as pope. He was also known to smile rarely.

Pius XI could be strict and had high expectations. He preferred to eat alone, following an old tradition, and would greet important visitors while seated. He was very firm about rules and standards, but he also knew when to admit his mistakes and apologize kindly.

Death and burial

Pope Pius XI had been unwell for some time and suffered two heart attacks in November 1938. He struggled with breathing and stayed in his apartment. He passed away from a third heart attack on February 10, 1939, at the age of 81. His last words were peaceful, and he was surrounded by those who cared for him.

After his death, leaders from different places sent messages of respect. His body was placed in special containers and buried in a sacred place within St. Peter's Basilica. His burial happened on February 14, 1939, and many people mourned his loss.

Legacy

Pius XI is remembered as the pope who led during a time between two big wars. He was very interested in science and helped restart the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1936. He welcomed scientists from many countries and backgrounds to join this group.

Several schools and places are named after him. In India, there is the Pope Pius XI Higher Secondary School in Kattanam, Alappuzha. In the United States, Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was founded in 1929 in his honor.

Pius XI loved mountain climbing and often said, "We have no fear of heights." Many mountain clubs around the world gave him awards for his love of climbing. A mountain hut in the Ötztal Alps is named after him, and a big glacier in Chile is called the Brüggen Glacier or Pío XI Glacier. He also chose Saint Bernard of Menthon as the special protector of mountain climbers and people who live in the Alps.

Episcopal genealogy

The following list shows the line of bishops and cardinals that led to Pope Pius XI:

• Cardinal Scipione Rebiba
• Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio
• Cardinal Girolamo Bernerio
• Bishop Claudio Rangoni
• Archbishop Wawrzyniec Gembicki
• Archbishop Jan Wężyk
• Bishop Piotr Gembicki
• Bishop Jan Gembicki
• Bishop Bonawentura Madaliński
• Bishop Jan Małachowski
• Archbishop Stanisław Szembek
• Bishop Felicjan Konstanty Szaniawski
• Bishop Andrzej Stanisław Załuski
• Archbishop Adam Ignacy Komorowski
• Archbishop Władysław Aleksander Łubieński
• Bishop Andrzej Mikolaj Stanisław Kostka Mlodziejowski
• Archbishop Kasper Kazimierz Cieciszowski
• Bishop Franciszek Borgiasz Mackiewicz
• Bishop Michał Piwnicki
• Archbishop Ignacy Ludwik Pawłowski
• Archbishop Kazimierz Roch Dmochowski
• Archbishop Wacław Żyliński
• Bishop Aleksander Kazimierz Beresniewicz
• Bishop Szymon Marcin Kozlowski
• Bishop Mieczysław Leonard Pallulon
• Archbishop Bolesław Hieronim Klopotowski
• Archbishop Jerzy Józef Elizeusz Szembek
• Bishop Stanisław Kazimierz Zdzitowiecki
• Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski
• Pope Pius XI