He had been elected by the faction of cardinals sympathetic to the political liberalization coursing across Europe, and his initial governance of the Papal States gives evidence of his own moderate sympathies; under his direction various sorts of political prisoners in the Papal States were released.
Dia telah dipilih oleh faksi kardinal yang bersimpati pada liberalisasi politik yang mengalir di seluruh Eropa, dan pemerintahan awalnya Kepausan memberikan bukti simpatinya sendiri yang moderat; di bawah arahannya berbagai macam tahanan politik di Amerika Serikat dibebaskan.