Pius VII (1800-1823) 253rd Pope
Napolean was anxious to reconcile his country with the Church
Catholicism was later recognized as the religion of the state in France
He started to reorganize the shattered Church in Europe. This task was made easier by the wave of piety that swept Catholic Europe, starting at the turn of the 18th century
This was partly spearheaded by the Romantic movement. This led to a tremendous rise in faith. Many sought the past was more preferable to the present situation
He created the papal flag
Leo XII (1823-1829) 254th Pope
He managed to rein in the curia officials who had become very venal and bribable
He worked very hard to prevent Protestant proselytizing
He reinstated Galileo’s works
Pius VIII (1829-1830) 255th Pope
He decreed that priest could bless mixed marriage provided that the non-Catholic promised to raise children as Catholic
He strengthened missionary activity
Gregory XVI (1831-1846) 256th Pope
He was renowned for his learning
He condemned democracy, believing that it would inevitably degenerate into oligarchy
At his death, a rise of liberal opinion was rising through Europe
Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878) 257th Pope
He became the first pope to be photographed
He began to acquire a reputation for liberalism
He was known for his amiability and wit
Popes clung to temporal possessions to maintain neutrality in order to maintain his spiritual mission as father of all.
It was a matter of sacrilege.
Donated to the Holy See, these possessions were sacred
He defined the Immaculate Conception in 1854
He convened Vatican I. They declared papal infallibility as gift of the Holy Spirit.
When speaking from the chair of Peter in matters of doctrine and faith, the pope is protected by the Holy Spirit in teaching error.
This cause a firestorm of protest
“Old Catholics” rejected papal infallibility as an innovation. They broke away from the Church.
A network of liberal Catholics wanted to reinterpret many of the Church’s doctrines
He established 26 new dioceses in the United States
He has been pope the longest of all popes
Rome became the capitol of Italy
Leo XIII (1878-1903) 258th Pope
New orders and devotions were growing in every Catholic country
The Industrial Revolution created a great underclass of workers who lived in abysmal poverty. These workers were often cut off from religion and ear
lier traditions. They were looking for something to believe in
Differing groups of socialists and anarchists were filling this ideological vaccuum. They were offering secular salvation
The Church of England experienced a resurgence of faith. John Neuman converted to Catholicism
The US consumed his interest. There developed tension between Ireland-oriented group and Rome-oriented Catholic cardinals
The Europeans expanded their empires all over the globe. He ensured that missionaries evangelize and protect the locals from explotiation
He favored Catholic social action to assist the working class
He is considered the first modern pope
He is first pope to be filmed