Pope Benedict XV and the Papal Peace Note of 1917
Benedict XV, the man
- born Giancomo Della Chiesa in Genoa, Italy in 1854
- After his ordination to the priesthood, entered the Vatican diplomatic corps
- First assignment was as secretary to Cardinal Rampolla, Papal Nuncio (Ambassador) to Madrid
- Served in the office of the Secretariat of State during the papacies of Leo XIII and Pius X
- Became Archbishop of Bolgona in 1908
- sent due to diplomatic policy disagreement with Pius X and Merry Del Val, his Secretariat of State
- Elected Pope in August 1914
Why I Chose This Topic
- Interest in the Catholic Church, Church History
- Interest in International Relations, History of Diplomacy
The Vatican, pre-war
Had control of the Papal Staes until 1840
What Was the Peace Note? Why did it fail?
- Mistrust of the Church
- The Entendre thought the Vatican secretly sided with the Central Powers, despite official neutrality
- Germany was suspicious, because of the lack of papal response to Germany's peace proposal in 1916
- Entrance of the United States into the war
- The Entendre felt bullish
- Decline of the Church's standing in world affairs