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Pope Benedict XV
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Pope Benedict XV

Pope of the Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922

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Pope Benedict XV (Latin: Benedictus PP. XV; Italian: Benedetto XV; born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, Italian: [ˈdʒaːkomo ˈpaːolo dʒoˈvanni batˈtista della ˈkjɛːza]; 21 November 1854 – 22 January 1922) was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his death in January 1922. His pontificate was largely focused on World War I and its political, social, and humanitarian consequences in Europe.

Quick facts

Born
wd
Place of birth
Pegli wd
Died
wd
Place of death
Apostolic Palace wd
Citizenship
Kingdom of Italy wd
Occupation
Latin Catholic priest, Catholic bishop wd
Education
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pontifical Gregorian University, University of Genoa wd

Positions held wd

  • Pope (3 September 1914 – 22 January 1922)
  • cardinal (since 25 May 1914)
  • Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bologna (since 16 December 1907)

Awards wd

  • Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre

About

In 1914, the College of Cardinals chose della Chiesa at the relatively young age of 59 at the outbreak of World War I, which he labeled "the suicide of civilized Europe". The war and its consequences were the main focus of Benedict XV. He immediately declared the neutrality of the Holy See and attempted from that perspective to mediate peace in 1916 and 1917. Both sides rejected his initiatives. German Protestants rejected any "Papal Peace" as insulting. The French politician Georges Clemenceau regarded the Vatican initiative as being anti-French. Having failed with diplomatic initiatives, Benedict XV focused on humanitarian efforts to lessen the impacts of the war, such as attending prisoners of war, the exchange of wounded soldiers and food deliveries to needy populations in Europe. After the war, he repaired the difficult relations with France, which re-established relations with the Vatican in 1921. During his pontificate, relations with Italy improved as well, as Benedict XV now permitted Catholic politicians led by Don Luigi Sturzo to participate in national Italian politics.

In 1917, Benedict XV promulgated the Code of Canon Law, which was released on 27 May, the creation of which he had prepared with Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII) and Pietro Gasparri during the pontificate of Pope Pius X. The new Code of Canon Law is considered to have stimulated religious life and activities throughout the Church. He named Gasparri to be his Cardinal…

Questions

When was Pope Benedict XV born?
Pope Benedict XV was born on 21 November 1854 in Pegli.
What positions has Pope Benedict XV held?
Positions held by Pope Benedict XV include: Pope (1914–1922); cardinal (since 25 May 1914); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bologna (since 16 December 1907).
Where did Pope Benedict XV study?
Pope Benedict XV was educated at Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pontifical Gregorian University, University of Genoa.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (English): Pope Benedict XV · CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Wikidata item Q4448 · CC0 1.0
  3. Image: Benedictus XV, by Nicola Perscheid, 1915 (retouched).jpg by Nicola Perscheid (Public domain)

Last updated · facts checked 4 November 2026

Cite this page

"Pope Benedict XV". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xv. Retrieved 5 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Benedict XV, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Benedictus XV, by Nicola Perscheid, 1915 (retouched).jpg — Nicola Perscheid, Public domain.

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