Pope Pius VIII: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Pius VIII, né Francesco Saverio Castiglioni (November 20, 1761 - November 30, 1830) was Pope from 1829 to 1830.

He was born in Cingoli, Italy. He studied canon law and, 1800 became bishop of Montalto. After he refused to swear allegiance to the Napoleonic king of Italy he was taken to France. In 1816, after the restoration of the Papacy, Castiglioni was made a cardinal and he held various offices thereafter. Castiglioni was chosen during the papal election following the death of Leo XII. He initiated some reforms in the States of the Church. On 24 May 1829 he issued an encyclical, Traditi humilitati nostrae. In 25 March 1830 the Brief Litteris altero he condemned Bible societies and secret associations. During Pius VII's reign various events occurred abroad of relevance to the Papacy occurred. There was Catholic Emancipation in the United Kingdom, and the July Revolution in France - after which he recognised Louis Philippe as King (while maintaining the independence of the church from any regime). Pius accepted the situation on mixed marriages in Germany, but opposed liberalising tendencies in Ireland and Poland. During his reign there was the first formal meeting of American bishops, who requested, and were granted, certain concessions. An autopsy carried out after his death found evidence that he had been poisoned.