Pope Pius VI

Pope Pius VI

Pope Pius VI was head of the Roman Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1775 to his death in 1799. His reign of over two decades is the fourth-longest in papal history. PiusVI gave a fair promise of reform and tackled the problem of corruption in the papal States.

About Pope Pius VI in brief

Summary Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI was head of the Roman Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1775 to his death in 1799. His reign of over two decades is the fourth-longest in papal history. Giovanni Angelo Braschi was born in Cesena on Christmas in 1717 as the eldest of eight children to Count Marco Aurelio Tommaso Braschi and Anna Teresa Bandi. After completing his studies in the Jesuit college of Cesena and receiving his doctorate of both canon and civil law in 1734, Braschi continued his studies at the University of Ferrara. Braschi became the private secretary of papal legate Cardinal Tomma Ruffo, Bishop of Ostia and Velletri. He was also appointed as the Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura in 1758 and held that position until 1759. In 1755, the pope appointed him as a canon of St Peter’s Basilica in 1755. He then retired to the Abbey of Subiaco, of which he was commendatory abbot. Pope Clement XIV died in 1774 and this triggered a conclave to choose a successor. The election of Braschi, who was one of the more moderate opponents of the anti-Jesuit stance of the late pope, was held on February 15, 1775.

He took the pontifical name of ‘Pius VI’ and was consecrated into the episcopate on 22 February 17 75 by Cardinal Gian Francesco Albani and was crowned that same day by the Cardinal Protodeacon Alessandro Alessandro Albani. The first jubilee his predecessor convoked was convoked and it initiated the 1775 Jubilee Year. PiusVI gave a fair promise of reform and tackled the problem of corruption in the papal States. He appointed a council of cardinals to remedy the state of the finances and relieve the imposts of pressure on the city of Rome. He condemned the French Revolution and the suppression of the Gallican Church that resulted from it. The papal troops were defeated by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796 and Pius was taken prisoner and transported to France in 1798. He died eighteen months later in Valence and was buried in the Cimetiere di San Giorgio in Rome, Italy, on May 29, 1799, and was succeeded by his son, Giovanni Angelo Bandi, who went on to become the Bishop of Imola.