# Pope Pius XI

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1922 to 1939_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-xi
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Pius XI (Italian: Pio XI; born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, Italian: [amˈbrɔːdʒo daˈmjaːno aˈkille ˈratti]; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939) was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 until his death in February 1939. He was also the first sovereign of Vatican City upon its creation on 11 February 1929.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 31 May 1857 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Desio ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P19))
- **Died:** 10 February 1939 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P570))
- **Place of death:** Vatican City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Italy; Vatican City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P27))
- **Occupation:** Latin Catholic priest; librarian; mountaineer; Catholic bishop; missionary; nuncio ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P106))
- **Education:** Pontifical Gregorian University; Sapienza University of Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (6 February 1922 – 10 February 1939); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milan (13 June 1921 – 6 February 1922); cardinal (since 13 June 1921); titular archbishop (since 19 April 1921); titular archbishop of Naupactus (since 3 July 1919); Apostolic Nuncio to Poland (since 6 June 1919) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of the White Eagle ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323#P166))

## About

Pius XI issued numerous encyclicals, including Quadragesimo anno on the 40th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's groundbreaking social encyclical Rerum novarum, highlighting the capitalistic greed of international finance, the dangers of atheistic communism, and social justice issues. He also wrote Quas primas, establishing the feast of Christ the King in response to anti-clericalism. The encyclical Casti connubii promulgated on 31 December 1930 prohibited Catholics from using contraception.

To establish or maintain the position of the Catholic Church, Pius XI concluded a record number of concordats, including the Reichskonkordat with Nazi Germany, and he condemned their betrayals four years later in the encyclical Mit brennender Sorge. During his pontificate, the longstanding hostility with the Italian government over the status of the papacy and the Church in Italy was successfully resolved in the Lateran Treaty of 1929.

He canonized Thomas More, Peter Canisius, Bernadette of Lourdes, and Don Bosco. He beatified and canonized Thérèse de Lisieux, for whom he held special reverence, and gave equivalent canonization to Albertus Magnus, naming him a Doctor of the Church. He took a strong interest in fostering the participation of laypeople throughout the Church, especially in the Catholic Action movement. The end of his pontificate was dominated by his speaking out against Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and defending the Catholic Church from outside interference. Pius XI died on 10 February 1939 in the Apostolic Palace and was buried in the Papal…

## Questions

**When was Pope Pius XI born?**  
Pope Pius XI was born on 31 May 1857 in Desio.

**What positions has Pope Pius XI held?**  
Positions held by Pope Pius XI include: Pope (1922–1939); Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milan (1921–1922); cardinal (since 13 June 1921); titular archbishop (since 19 April 1921); titular archbishop of Naupactus (since 3 July 1919).

**Where did Pope Pius XI study?**  
Pope Pius XI was educated at Pontifical Gregorian University, Sapienza University of Rome.

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Pius IV](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-iv)
- [Pope Urban III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-iii)
- [Pope Paul VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-vi)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Alexander VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-viii)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Pius XI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_XI) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q42323](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42323) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pius XI, by Nicola Perscheid, circa 1922 (retouched).jpg by Nicola Perscheid (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pius_XI,_by_Nicola_Perscheid,_circa_1922_(retouched).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Pius XI, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pius XI, by Nicola Perscheid, circa 1922 (retouched).jpg — Nicola Perscheid, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Pius XI". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-xi. Retrieved 6 November 2026.