Papal conclave, 1922

Context

The previous five conclaves had produced a constant tic-tacing between conservatives and liberals, from the conservative Pope Gregory XV in 1831 to the (initially) liberal Pope Pius IX. By the time of his death in 1878 Pius IX had become a reactionary conservative. He however was succeeded by the liberal Pope Leo XIII who, on his death was succeeded by the populist conservative Pope Pius X. In 1914 the liberal Benedict XV, a protegé of the cardinal vetoed as pope in 1903, Mariano Cardinal Rampolla del Tindaro, was elected. The question many asked was: from which side would the new pope come this time?

Conclave - election of the Archbishop of Milan

Aftermath

Ratti himself was less easy to categorise in terms of the conservative/liberal divide than most of his immediate predecessors. Most regarded him as a moderate conservative, to the right of Pope Benedict but to the left of Popes Gregory XV, Pius IX (at the end of his reign) and Pius X. He was also strikingly different to his predecessor. Whereas Benedict was in poor health and effete, Ratti was an unusual combination of a scholar, librarian, diplomat and talented mounted climber.

In other eras Pius XI would count as a major pope. However he had the misfortune in the twentieth century of competing for historic profile with a number of high profile pope; Pius X, who was canonised, Pope Pius XII, the controversial pope during the Second World War, the acclaimed Pope John XXIII (later declared 'Blessed'), the theologically controversial Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, famous simply for the shortness of his reign (33 days) and for controversies over his death, and Pope John Paul II, one of the most remarkable popes in Church history, who within hours of his death was being described by many as John Paul the Great. In that context Pope Pius XI has tended to be overlooked and overshadowed, joining his predecessor Benedict XV as one of the twentieth century's "forgotten popes". Pius XI died in 1939, on the eve of the Second World War.

Conclave details