Papal Retrospective : Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922)

Figure 1

Pope Benedict XV

Portrait painted by Giacomo Grosso 1919.

On 3rd September, 1914, GIACOMO DELLA CHIESA, Cardinal-Archbishop of Bologna, was elected Pope by 57 members of the College of Cardinals and took the name Benedict XV. World War One had broken out and the Conclave had wished to place the Church in the hands of an experienced diplomat, even though Della Chiesa was only 59.  Only one Cardinal from the across the Atlantic arrived in Rome for the Conclave : the Archbishop of New York.

Giacomo Della-Chiesa was born of noble parents in Génoa on 21st November 1854. He was ordained a priest in Rome in 1878, where he continued studies until becoming part of Vatican Diplomatic Corps. He continued in this work until he was appointed Archbishop of Bologna by Pope Pius X in 1907. Only a few months before his death in August 1914, Pope Pius X elevated Monsignor Della-Chiesa to the Sacred College of Cardinals.

Pope Benedict XV's Pontificate spanned the years of the First World War and he was admired by all parties in that destructive conflict for his many efforts to broker peace and to assist the victims of war. Never of robust health, Pope Benedict died on 22nd January, 1922 at the young age of 67. He is buried in the crypt of Saint Peter's Basilica.

An informative account of his life and work can be found here.

Click on the images for an enlarged view.

Figure 2 (above) and Figure 3 (below)

Figure 2 is a painting by the artist Emilio Vasarri made to commemorate the election of Pope Benedict. The Pope is depicted seated on the sede gestatoria.

Figure 3 is a rare photograph depicting the scene in the Sistine Chapel 

on 16th September 1914 when Benedict XV was crowned Pope. 

 Following the Coronation, the Pope offered Solemn Mass, which is when the photograph was taken. 

 On the right side of the altar, mounted on a small stand, 

is the triple tiara with which he was crowned.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the photograph is that it indicates

that the crowning of the Pope was essentially a private ceremony for the Papal Court and College of Cardinals.

Figure 4 (above)

An intrepid bishop: as Archbishop of Bologna from 1907

Monsignor Della Chiesa visited parts of his Archdiocese on horseback. 

 Was he the last Pope who visited his flock in the saddle?

Figure 5 (above) and Figure 6(below)

Historic moments : the Consecration of Bishops by the Pope

in the Sistine Chapel.

Figure 5  18th December 1907:

Pope Pius X consecrates Monsignor Giacomo Della Chiesa

as Archbishop of Bologna.  Seven years later, Della Chiesa

was elected to succeed Pius X. 

Figure 6  Benedict XV consecrating Monsignor Eugenio Pacelli as bishop in 1917.

In 1939, Pacelli was elected as Pope Pius XII.

Figure 7 (above)

Benedict XV photographed in the Apostolic Palace

circa 1915.

Figure 8 (above)

A white zucchetto (skullcap) worn by Benedict XV.

An Italian businessman, Giuseppe Faggiani acquired this in 1919.

Figure 9 (above)

The mortal remains of Pope Benedict XV being carried in procession

from the Apostolic Palace to Saint Peter's Basilica, January 1922.

Figure 10 (above)

The Coat of Arms of Benedict XV.

AMDG

Next post : Pope Pius XI.