Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII (; ), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958), was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 261st Pope from 1939 to 1958. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-02.

 Early life 
Pacelli was born on 2 March 1876 in Rome, Italy. He studied at the Capranica Seminary and the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1895, he earned a degree in Theology. "Pope Pius XII",  Embryo Project  (2010); retrieved 2011-11-02.

Priest
Pacelli was ordained as a priest on 2 April 1899. In 1904, he was raised to the rank of Monsignor.  He worked at the Office of the Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs.

Bishop
In 1917, Pope Benedict XV appointed him an archbishop and nuncio to Bavaria, Germany.

Cardinal
Pope Pius XI raised Pacelli to the rank of Cardinal in December 1929. "Cardinal Pacelli Papal Secretary," New York Times. February 11, 1930; retrieved 2011-11-9.

In February 1930, Cardinal Pacelli became the Vatican Secretary of State.

Pope
Cardinal Pacelli was elected Pope on 2 March 1939, which was his 63th birthday.

Pius  XII wrote forty-one official papal letters (encylicals).

Pius XII named forty-two new cardinals.

Related pages
 List of popes

References

 Other websites 

 Vatican webpage, Pius XII biography 
 Critical Online Edition of the Nuncial Reports of Eugenio Pacelli (1917–1929) 
 Tomb of Pius XII
  Catholic hierarchy, Pope Pius XII
  Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal Pacelli 

Category:1876 births
Category:1958 deaths
Category:Italian popes
Category:People from Rome
Category:Venerated Catholics
Category:Cardinal Secretaries of State