Pius IX (1792-1878) was pope from 1846 to 1878. He began his reign devoted to liberal ideals but, embittered by the anticlericalism of Italian liberals and by the assault on papal territories by the new kingdom of Italy, became an important foe of...

PIUS IX (Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, 1792–1878), pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1846–1878). Born on May 13 into a family belonging to the gentry of the Papal States, the future pope had his priestly formation delayed by an...

Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878), born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from his election in June 16, 1846, until his death more than 31 years later in 1878. Pius IX was elected as the...

Pius IX, a controversial choice, issued 'Syllabus of Errors' Elena Mortara remembers being in the Rome synagogue in April 1986 when Pope John Paul II made his momentous visit, believed by historians to be the first time a pope set foot in...

VATICAN CITY--On the eve of the beatification scheduled for September 3, a press campaign has been unleashed against Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti (1792-1878), who took the name Pius IX when elected to the papacy (1846-78). The criticisms began with the publication of...

Today is Friday, Dec. 8, the 342nd day of 2006. There are 23 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 8, 1980, rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by an apparently deranged fan.On this...

Pope Benedict XVI elevated 23 clerics from around the world to the top ranks of the Catholic Church Saturday, including the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, whom he welcomed by saying he was praying for peace in Iraq.On a gilded papal throne set on an altar...