Pope Pius VIII

(Francesco Xaverio Castiglione).

B. at Cingoli, 20 Nov., 1761; elected 31 March, 1829; d. 1 Dec., 1830. He came

of a noble family and attended the Jesuit school at Osimo, later taking courses of

canon law at Bologna and Rome. In Rome he associated himself with his teacher

Devoti, assisted him in the compilation of his "Institutiones" (1792), and, when

Devoti was appointed Bishop of Anagni, became his vicar-general. He

subsequently filled the same position under Bishop Severoli at Cingoli, and, after

some time, became provost of the cathedral in his native city. In 1800 Pius VII

named him Bishop of Montalto, which see he shortly afterwards exchanged for

that of Cesena. Under the French domination he was arrested, having refused to

take the oath of allegiance to the King of Italy, and brought to Macerata, then to

Mantua, and finally to France. In 1816 the pope conferred upon him the cardinal's

hat, and in 1822 appointed him Bishop of Frascati and Grand Penitentiary. As

early as the conclave of 1823, Castiglione was among the candidates for the

papacy. At the election of 1829, France and Austria were desirous of electing a

pope of mild and temperate disposition, and Castiglione, whose character

corresponded with the requirements, was chosen after a five weeks' session. His

reign, which lasted but twenty months, was not wanting in notable occurrences.

In April, 1829, the Catholic Emancipation Bill, which made it possible for

Catholics to sit in Parliament and to hold public offices, was passed in England.

Leo XII had taken a great interest in Catholic Emancipation, but had not lived to

see it become law. On 25 March, 1830, Pius published the Brief "Litteris altero

abhinc", in which he declared that marriage could be blessed by the Church only

when the proper promises were made regarding the Catholic education of the

children; otherwise, the parish priest should only assist passively at the

ceremony. Under his successor this matter became a cause of conflict in

Prussia between the bishops and the Government (see DROSTE-VISCHERING,

CLEMENS AUGUST VON). The pope's last months were troubled. In France, the

Revolution of July broke out and the king was obliged to flee, being succeeded on

the throne by the younger Orleans branch. The pope recognized the new regime

with hesitation. The movement, which also affected Belgium and Poland, even

extended to Rome, where a lodge of Carbonari with twenty-six members was

discovered. In the midst of anxiety and care, Pius VIII, whose constitution had

always been delicate, passed away. Before the coronation of his successor,

revolution broke out in the Papal States. The character of Pius VIII was mild and

amiable, and he enjoyed a reputation for learning, being especially versed in

canon law, numismatics, and Biblical literature. In addition, he was extremely

conscientious. Thus, he ordered all his relatives, upon his accession to the

pontifical throne, to resign the positions which they held.

ARTAUD, Histoire du Pape Pie VIII (Paris, 1844); WISEMAN, Recollections of the Last Four Popes

(London and Boston, 1858).

KLEMENS LOEFFLER

Transcribed by Herman F. Holbrook

Peter, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. Luke 22.32

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII

Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor

Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York