Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV (Latin: Benedictus PP. XV; Italian: Benedetto XV, 21 November 1854 – 22 January 1922), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 259th Pope from 1914 until his death in 1922.[1]
| Pope Benedict XV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Papacy began | 3 September 1914 |
| Papacy ended | 22 January 1922 |
| Predecessor | Pope Pius X |
| Successor | Pope Pius XI |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa |
| Born | 21 November 1854 Pegli, Piemont-Sardinia |
| Died | 22 January 1922 (aged 67) Apostolic Palace, Vatican City |
| Motto | In Te Domine Speravi, Non Confundar In Aeternum (In Thee O Lord, I have hoped, not to be ashamed forever) |
| Other Popes named Benedict | |
His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I.[2]
Priest
Della Chiesa was ordained a priest on 21 December 1878.
Bishop
Pope Pius X made della Chiesa Bishop of Bologna in 1907.
Cardinal
On 25 May 1914, Giacomo della Chiesa was created a cardinal.
Pope
Cardinal Della Chiesa was elected pope in 1914; and he chose to be called Benedict XV.[3]
Joan of Arc was canonized by Benedict.[4]
Benedict made efforts to encourage peace in World War I. He refused to denounce either side.[5] In 1918, Pope Benedict was excluded from the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, despite his entreaties to be made part of the talks.[4]
Benedict XV helped develop a Code of Canon Law.[4]
Benedict XV was the fourth Pope since the Kingdom of Italy took possession of Rome.[6]
The last years of his papacy were concerned with making sure that the Church could still function smoothly in the newly changed borders of Europe.[5]
Death and legacy
Benedict XV fell ill with pneumonia (influenza) in early January 1922.[4] He died on 22 January 1922.[7] The Italian Government lowered its flags to half-mast; and Benedict XV was the first pope to be honored in this way.[6]
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI explained why he chose the name Benedict:
- "... I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."
Related pages
References
- ↑ "List of Popes," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-8.
- ↑ "Pope Benedict XV," Archived 2012-01-28 at the Wayback Machine New Catholic Dictionary (1910); retrieved 2011-11-8.
- ↑ Note on ordinal numbering: Popes Benedict XI–XVI are really the 10th–15th popes with that name. This is because Benedict X is now parsed as an antipope; but during the reign of Benedict XI, this was not recognized. The "true" or actual fourteenth pope Benedict identified himself with the ordinal number XV. In other words, the numbering of popes after the 10th Benedict needs to be explained -- compare Popes Boniface VIII–IX.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Williams, Timothy. "Last Pope Benedict Focused on Ending World War I," New York Times. April 19, 2005; retrieved 2011-11-9.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Benedict XV | pope". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 McCormick, Anne O'Hare. "The Old Pope and Papal Prestige," New York Times. February 12, 1922; rtrieved 2011-11-9.
- ↑ "Body of Pope Benedict XV Lies in State," New York Times. January 23, 1922; retrieved 2011-11-8.
More reading
- Peters, Walter H. (1959). The Life of Benedict XV. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing. OCLC 625633
- Pollard, John F. (1999). The Unknown Pope. London: Geoffrey Chapman. ISBN 9780225668445; OCLC 60158637
Other websites
Media related to Benedictus XV at Wikimedia Commons
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Wikisource has original works written by or about: |
"Pope Benedict XIV". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. - Catholic Hierarchy, Pope Benedict XV
- Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal della Chiesa
- Vatican webpage, Benedict XV, biography (in Italian)
- Saint Peter's Basilica, Tomb of Benedict XV
| Preceded by Pius X |
Pope 1914–1922 |
Succeeded by Pius XI |