Pope Benedict XV

Pope Benedict 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. "List of Popes,"  Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2011-11-8.

His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I."Pope Benedict XV,"  New Catholic Dictionary (1910); retrieved 2011-11-8.

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.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.

Joan of Arc was canonized by Benedict.Williams, Timothy.  "Last Pope Benedict Focused on Ending World War I," New York Times. April 19, 2005; retrieved 2011-11-9.

Benedict made efforts to encourage peace in World War I. He refused to denounce either side. In 1918, Pope Benedict was excluded from the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, despite his entreaties to be made part of the talks.

Benedict XV helped develop a Code of Canon Law.

Benedict XV was the fourth Pope since the Kingdom of Italy took possession of Rome.McCormick, Anne O'Hare.  "The Old Pope and Papal Prestige," New York Times. February 12, 1922; rtrieved 2011-11-9.

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.

Death and legacy
Benedict XV fell ill with pneumonia in early January 1922. He died on 22 January 1922. "Body of Pope Benedict XV Lies in State," New York Times. January 23, 1922; retrieved 2011-11-8.  The Italian Government lowered its flags in his honor; Benedict was the first pope to be honored in this way.

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
 List of popes

References

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. ;  OCLC 60158637

Other websites


  Catholic Hierarchy,  Pope Benedict XV
 Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church ,  Cardinal della Chiesa 
  Vatican webpage, Benedict XV,   biography 
  Saint Peter's Basilica, Tomb of Benedict XV

Category:Italian popes
Category:1854 births
Category:1922 deaths
Category:Deaths from pneumonia