ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the author talks about the religious implications of literary and philosophical texts of Pius IX. Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti was born at Sinigaglia, Italy, in 1792, the son of a count. He was ordained priest in 1819, became archbishop of Spoleto in 1830, and was created a cardinal in 1840. On the death of Gregory XVI, in 1846, he was elected pope and assumed the name of Pius IX. During the thirty-two years of his papacy, Italy achieved unification, and the pope lost his very considerable temporal dominion, which in 1846 comprised a large part of continental Italy. Pius IX, however, refused to accept the idea that the power of the papacy might be approaching an end. Our most Holy Father, Pius IX, Sovereign Pontiff, being profoundly anxious for the salvation of souls and concerned with sound doctrine.