Reigned from March 21, 1800 to August 20, 1823. Born on August 17, 1740 at Cesena, Italy as Barnaba Chiaramonti; died on August 20, 1823 at Rome, Italy. He was educated at the college for nobles, Ravenna, and entered the Benedictine Order in 1256. Before his elevation to the papacy he was bishop of Tivoli, and of Imola, and cardinal. During his pontificate he erected the dioceses of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Bardstown, Charleston, Richmond, and Cincinnati in the United States. The religious question in France was settled by the Concordat of 1801. The Papal States were restored at the Congress of Vienna from 1814 to 1815, through the efforts of Consalvi, cardinal secretary of state. The English, Scottish, and German colleges at Rome were reopened. The Society of Jesus was reestablished for the Universal Church, 1814. Pius was held prisoner by Napoleon from 1809 to 1814, first at Savona and later at Fontainebleau, yet pleaded with the prince-regent of England for the fallen tyrant during his imprisonment at Saint Helena from 1815 to 1821. During his reign Rome was the abode of the artists Canova, Thorwaldsen, Führich, Overbeck, Pforr, Schadow, and Cornelius.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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