The history of the Papacy of the 19th Century

Published on Updated on History Modern, History Popes

The present-day Catholic church throughout the world has been deeply shaped by the popes of the 19th century. This is our summary.

 

 

Prelude to the 19th Century Papacy – The Political Factors

The popes of the 19th century were deeply influenced by factors that were already underway prior to their time. This is our summary of the political factors.

1. The Gallican Articles

2. Suppression of the Jesuits

  1. Jansenism
  2. Portugal
  3. France
  4. Spain
  5. Pope Clement XIV

3. Josephinism

4. Febronianism

 

Prelude to the 19th Century Papacy – The Religious Factors

The popes of the 19th century were deeply influenced by factors that were already underway prior to their time. This is our summary of the religious factors.

1. Character of the Papacy

2. The Clergy

3. Jansenism

 

The Papacy of Pius VII

1800-1823 AD

Barnaba Chiaramonti was a Benedictine monk and theologian from Italy. He was the first pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1800 to 1823.

1. Background

  1. Early Life and Training
  2. Ecclesiastical Career

2. The French Revolution

  1. Overview
  2. Civic Constitution of the Clergy
  3. The Concordat of 1801
  4. The Treaty of Tolentino
  5. Prisoner of Napoleon

3. The Congress of Vienna

4. Signs of Revival

5. Passing

6. Conclusions

 

The Papacy of Leo XII

1823-1829 AD

Annibale della Genga was a diocesan priest and diplomat from Italy. He was the second pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1823 to 1829.

1. Background

  1. Early Life and Training
  2. Ecclesiastical Career

2. Papacy

  1. Overview
  2. Timeline

Notes

 

The Papacy of Pius VIII

1829-1830 AD

Francesco Saverio Maria Felice Castiglioni was a diocesan priest from Italy. He was the third pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1829 to 1830.

1. Background

  1. Early Life and Training
  2. Ecclesiastical Career

2. Papacy

 

The Papacy of Gregory XVI

1831-1846 AD

Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari was a Camaldolese priest from Venice. He was the fourth pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1831-1846.

1. Background

2. Election as Pope

3. Papacy

  1. Revolt
  2. Mirari Vos
  3. Problems of Italian Unity
  4. Germany and the Papacy
  5. Great Britain and the Papacy
  6. Belgium and the Papacy
  7. Poland and the Papacy

4. The Issue of Slavery

5. Conclusions

 

The Papacy of Pius IX

1846-1878 AD

Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti was a diocesan priest from Italy. He was the fifth pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1846-1878.

1. Background

  1. Early Life and Career
  2. Historiographers
  3. Election
  4. Highlights until 1848

2. Reaction to the 1848 revolution

  1. Overview
  2. Situation in the Papal States
  3. Pius IX in Gaeta
  4. Return to Rome

3. Issue of Italian Independence

  1. The Kingdom of Piedmont
  2. Loss of Temporal Power

4. Doctrinal Issues

  1. The Immaculate Conception (1854)
  2. The Syllabus of Errors (1864)
  3. Papal Infallibility (1870)

5. Final Year: Prisoner of the Vatican

6. The Kulturkampf in Germany

7. Conclusions

 

The Papacy of Leo XIII

1878-1903 AD

Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci was a Jesuit priest from Italy. He was the sixth pope of the nineteenth century, reigning from 1878-1903.

1. Background and Early Career

2. Election as Pope

3. Signs of Change

  1. The Culture War in Germany
  2. A new Vision of Church-State Relations
  3. New Efforts in France

4. Social Concerns

  1. European Initiatives prior to Rerum Novarum
  2. The Knights of Labor
  3. Rerum Novarum (1891)

 

REFERENCES

Thomas Bokenkotter. A Concise History of the Catholic Church (2004).

Paul Tillich. A History of Christian Thought (1968).

Martin Zielinski. The 19th Century Papacy (1997).

 

19th CENTURY PAPACY

MAJOR ERAS:

  1. Prelude to the 19th Century Papacy – the Political Factors
  2. Prelude to the 19th Century Papacy – the Religious Factors
  3. The Papacy of Pius VII: 1800-1823
  4. The papacy of Leo XII: 1823-1829
  5. The papacy of Pius VIII: 1829-1830
  6. The papacy of Gregory XVI: 1831-1846
  7. The papacy of Pius IX: 1846-1878
  8. The papacy of Leo XIII: 1878-1903

SEE ALSO: References, Church History

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