Papal Retrospective : Pope Pius XI (1922-1939)

On 6th February, 1922, AMBROGIO DAMIANO ACHILLE RATTI, Cardinal-Archbishop of Milan, was elected Pope by 53 members of the College of Cardinals and took the name Pius XI. Pope Benedict XV had died suddenly at a relatively young age, and it was by no means clear who would succeed him. Cardinal Ratti was elected on the fourteenth ballot.

Achille Ratti was born in Desio, in the province of Milan 31st May 1857. He was ordained a priest in 1879, only one year after his papal predecessor, Giacomo Della Chiesa (Benedict XV).  Ratti was by inclination a scholar and until 1918, his entire priesthood had been steeped in teaching, writing and research. This changed dramatically when Pope Benedict sent him as Nuncio to Poland at the conclusion of World War One. Then in June 1921, only six months before his death in August 1914, Pope Benedict elevated Monsignor Ratti to the Sacred College of Cardinals and appointed him Archbishop of Milan.

Towards the end of his reign, he wrote an encyclical letter condemning the philosophies of National Socialism which he caused to be smuggled into Germany and read in every Catholic Church on Palm Sunday, 1937, much to the anger of Nazi officials.

Pope Pius XI died on 10th February, 1939 at the age of 81. 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)

Pius XI carried on the papal chair through Saint Peter's 

after the Mass in which he was crowned Pope in February 1922.

Figure 3 (above)

Pope Pius giving the Blessing  Urbi et Orbi

from the central loggia of Saint Peter's after his Coronation.

Pius XI was the first Pope to appear on the famous balcony

since the surrender of the Vatican State to Italian armies in 1870.

Figure 4 (above)

Pope Pius XI at his cathedra as Bishop of Rome in the Lateran Basilica.

Figure 5 (above)

A consistory for a Rite of Beatification 

held in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace 

presided over by Pius XI.

Figure 6 (above)

A photographic portrait of Pius XI taken in the Apostolic Palace.

Figure 7 (above)

The Coat of Arms of Pope Pius XI.

Figure 8 (above)

At the beginning of the year 1925, Pope Pius opened the Holy Door 

of Saint Peter's and knelt in prayer at the threshold.

Figure 9 (above)

At the altar of the Sistine Chapel 21st July, 1929:

Pope Pius consecrates Idelfonso Schuster OSB as Archbishop of Milan.

A week before, the Pope had elevated Dom Idelfonso to the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Schuster was Beatified in 1996.

Figure 10 (above)

The Sistine Chapel, 1929.

Pontifical Solemn Mass being celebrated in the presence of Pope Pius:

during the Singing of the Gospel.

Figure 11 (above)

Silver medal of Pius XI

Figure 12 (above)

The Tomb of Pope Pius XI in the crypt of the Vatican Basilica. 

AMDG 

Next post : Pope Pius XII.