benedictxv

Pope Benedict XV (Card. Della Chiesa) (LOC)

from The Library of Congress

• trialsanderrors said:

  Pope Benedict XV (Latin: Benedictus PP. XV, Italian: Benedetto XV; 21 November 1854 – 22 January 1922), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922. His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I and its political, social and humanitarian consequences in Europe. Between 1846 and 1903, the Church experienced its two longest pontificates in history, up to that point. Together Pius IX and Leo XIII ruled for 57 years. In 1914, the Cardinals choose Della Chiesa at the age of 59, indicating their desire for another long-lasting pontificate at the outbreak of World War I, which he labeled “the suicide of civilized Europe.” The war and its consequences were the main focus of Benedict. He declared the neutrality of the Holy See and attempted from that perspective to mediate peace in 1916 and 1917. Both sides rejected his initiatives. German Protestants rejected any “Papal Peace” as insulting. French politician Georges Clemenceau regarded the Vatican initiative as anti-French. [The current] Pope Benedict XVI showed his own admiration for Benedict XV following his election to the Papacy on 19 April 2005.

• Wystan said:

  LOC -- there is a misspelling in your title -- should be "della" not "Delia".

• Disillusioned Plant said:

  Evil.

• Ryan (LOC P&P) said:

  Thanks trialsanderrors for the brief biography and link, and thanks Wystan for noting the misspelling. We'll make the correction the next time we update the record.

• trialsanderrors said:

  To be perfectly accurate, it should be della, not Della, "della Chiesa" meaning "of the church". Quite fitting surname for a pope.