Blessed Pius IX, born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death on 7 February 1878. He was the first pope to be declared “blessed” by the Church, and his papacy was marked by a number of significant events, including the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the definition of papal infallibility, and the restoration of the Papal States.
Pius IX was born in Senigallia, Italy, on 13 May 1792. He was the son of Count Giovanni Battista Mastai-Ferretti and his wife, Anna Prosperi Buzi. He was educated at the Collegio Romano and the University of Rome, where he studied law and theology. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1819, he was appointed Bishop of Imola in 1827 and Archbishop of Spoleto in 1832. In 1839, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Pius IX was elected pope on 16 June 1846, succeeding Pope Gregory XVI. He was the first pope to be elected by the College of Cardinals since the Reformation, and the first pope to be elected by a majority of the cardinals since the Council of Trent. He was also the first pope to be elected by a conclave since the election of Pope Urban VII in 1590.
Pius IX's papacy was marked by a number of significant events. In 1854, he proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which declared that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This was the first time that a dogma had been defined by a pope since the Council of Trent. In 1870, he issued the Syllabus of Errors, which condemned a number of modern ideas, including liberalism, socialism, and religious indifferentism.
In 1869, Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council, which declared papal infallibility. This was the first time that a pope had declared himself infallible, and it was a controversial move. The doctrine of papal infallibility was accepted by the majority of Catholics, but it was rejected by some, including the Old Catholics, who broke away from the Church in protest.
In addition to these doctrinal issues, Pius IX was also involved in a number of political issues. In 1859, he signed the Treaty of Villafranca, which ended the war between Austria and France and restored the Papal States. This was a significant victory for Pius IX, as it restored the temporal power of the papacy. In 1870, however, the Papal States were annexed by the Kingdom of Italy, and Pius IX was forced to flee to Gaeta.
Pius IX died on 7 February 1878, and he was declared “blessed” by the Church in 2000. He is remembered as a pope who was deeply devoted to the Church and its teachings, and who was willing to stand up for the rights of the papacy in the face of political opposition. His papacy was marked by a number of significant events, and his legacy continues to be felt in the Catholic Church today.