Benedict XV: The least remembered pope of the 20th century

by Gunther Simmermacher · September 2, 2014

September 3 marks the 100th anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict XV as successor to Pope St Pius X. GUNTHER SIMMERMACHER looks at the life and papacy of the 20th century’s least remembered pontiff.

The First World War had just started, and people were still predicting it would all be over by Christmas, when the splendidly named Cardinal Giacomo della Chiesa was elected Vicar of Christ in succession of Pope Pius X.

The new pope took the name Benedict XV the first to take that name since 1740.

The first four years of Benedict’s pontificate were dominated by the Great War the conclave had deliberately elected a pontiff with diplomatic experience and the pope was consumed by it. He not only repeatedly appealed for peace, but also tried to broker an end to the conflict, which he had termed the suicide of civilised Europe.

His efforts in 1914 were rebuffed: Germany, after initially accepting them, found his proposed terms insulting, the French found them biased against them.

Thereafter, at Italy’s urging, the allies froze out all efforts by the Holy See to mediate in peace efforts. Ironically, Pope Benedict’s resolute neutrality caused both sides to suspect him of bias. Benedict’s detailed and fair 1917 peace proposal was roundly ignored.

Even his efforts at humanitarian efforts were subject to suspicion, though the Church did perform significant relief work.

Pope Benedict XV appeared on the front-page of the very first edition of The Southern Cross on October 16, 1920.

The diminutive Benedict was 59 years old when he was elected pope. He had been born in 1854 into a patrician family in Genoa. His father did not allow young Giacomo to become a priest. Instead Giacomo obtained a law degree. When Giacomo still insisted on the priesthood, the Marchese della Chiesa reluctantly allowed it as long as his son would not become a parish priest.

So Giacomo was ordained in 1878, went to Rome and under the mentorship of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla began a bright career as a diplomat and curial official, ultimately working under his patron in the secretariat of state.

When Cardinal Guiseppe Sarto became Pope Pius X, the new pope removed Rampolla (whose bid at the papacy was scuppered by an Austrian veto) as secretary of state, but allowed della Chiesa to stay on until naming him archbishop of Bologna in 1907 the same archdiocese which Pope Benedict XIV had headed in the 18th century.

Unusually, Pius did not name della Chiesa a cardinal, as was customary for a new archbishop of Bologna. The elevation to cardinal came only on May 25, 1914. Cardinal della Chiesa barely had time to wear in his red hat just over three months later, he was elected pope.

The coronation of Pope Benedict XV in St Peter’s basilica in 1914.

Benedict XV may be the least remembered of the 20th century’s nine popes, but in his papacy of just over seven years, he did much good.

He promoted the training of priests in Africa and Asia, where he proposed the Church should foster local, not European, cultures.

A practical, common-sense man rather than a high-minded theologian, Benedict even issued an encyclical which called for better preaching.

While he reiterated Pope Pius X’s condemnation of modernism and declined to lift the excommunications of theologians imposed by his predecessor, he also tempered the excesses of the anti-modernist campaign.

During World War I he placed Europe under the protection of Mary, Queen of Peace, and promoted Marian devotions. On the day of the first reported apparition of Fatima, on May 13, 1917, he consecrated a new bishop: Eugenio Pacelli, who as Pope Pius XII would be the Vicar of Christ through the next world war, from 1939-45.

Benedict was a modest, unassuming man. Perhaps his humble nature contributed to his death at the age of 67 on January 22, 1922.

Earlier in the month he had celebrated Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae (which was rebuilt in the 1990s and now accommodates Pope Francis). Afterwards he patiently waited outside in the pouring rain for his car to arrive. After this he contracted a flu which turned into the pneumonia which would kill him.

Benedict XV is buried in the crypt of St Peter beneath St Peter’s basilica.

In the courtyard of St Esprit cathedral in Istanbul stands a monument to Benedict XV. At its foot is the inscription: The great Pope of the world tragedy…the benefactor of all people, irrespective of nationality or religion.