Pius VII

(1740–1823)

   Pope.

   Pius was born Gregorio Barnaba Chiaramonti. A member of the Benedictine Order, he was consecrated Bishop of Tivoli in 1782, Bishop of Imola in 1785 and, in the same year, was made a Cardinal. He was elected Pope in 1800. His Pontificate was dominated first by the grandiose claims of Napoleon and secondly by the reorganisation of Europe after the Treaty of Vienna of 1815. By nature conciliatory, Pius was present at Napoleon’s coronation, but, despite papal protest, the new Emperor systematically took control of the Church. In 1809 Pius was in effect taken prisoner and he was not released until 1814. After the Treaty of Vienna, the Papal States were restored and reorganised. Despite the political turmoil, the Pope did succeed in promoting missions to Asia and to Latin America; he restored the Jesuit Order and his dedication and piety were admired by his contemporaries.

   E.E.Y. Hales, Napoleon and the Pope (1962);

   J. Leflon, Pie VII (1958) [no English translation available].