Religion: St. Pius IX?

One major purpose of the Roman Catholic Church's forthcoming Ecumenical Council is to complete the work of internal reform planned by the bishops at the First Vatican Council of 1869-1870. Last week Pope John XXIII announced that he hopes, during the course of the Council, to proclaim the beatification of the Pope who presided over that last council: Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti. who as Pius IX ruled longer (1846-1878) than any Pope in history. If he is later canonized, a process that might take decades, he will be called St. Pius IX.

"Pio Nono" was...

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