VATICAN (CNS): Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon from 1809 to 1814, endured humiliation but successfully resisted all attempts to fracture the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis told pilgrims from the Italian dioceses of Cesena-Sarsina, Tivoli, Savona and Imola, who were marking the 200th anniversary of the pope’s death.
When Napoleon was defeated and the pope was able to return to Rome, “the community that emerged was materially poorer, but morally stronger, more cohesive and more credible,” the pope
Pope Pius VII, born Barnaba Chiaramonti in Cesena, was elected pope in 1800 after serving as a Benedictine monk and abbot.
Pope Francis told the pilgrims, “His example spurs us to be, in our time, even at the cost of renunciations, builders of unity in the universal Church, in the local Church, in parishes and in families: to build communion, to favour reconciliation, to promote peace, faithful to truth in charity!”
Pope Pius VII came from a well-off family, Pope Francis told the pilgrims, but he had told the cardinals who elected him that “it is not in splendour … but rather in contempt for riches, in humility, in modesty, in patience, in charity and finally in every priestly duty that the image of Our Creator is portrayed, and the authentic dimension of the Church is preserved.”
He knew how to face his imprisonment with cunning. At times he sent messages in his undergarments, and in this way, he managed to lead the Church, through messages in his undergarments. And it is a good thing: he was a man who was intelligent, astute and who wanted to carry out the task of governing that the Lord had given him; this is good
Pope Francis said, “What he said is beautiful.”
After Napoleon’s troops had invaded Italy, Pope Pius VII tried to negotiate with him and succeeded to some extent until Napoleon invaded the Papal States in 1809 and exiled the pope to Savona and then to France.
“He was a very intelligent man, very pious and astute,” Pope Francis said. “He knew how to face his imprisonment with cunning. At times he sent messages in his undergarments, and in this way, he managed to lead the Church, through messages in his undergarments. And it is a good thing: he was a man who was intelligent, astute and who wanted to carry out the task of governing that the Lord had given him; this is good.”
Pope Francis recalled that, despite the difficulties he faced during Napoleonic rule, Pope Pius VII paid a particular attention to the needy and carried out far-reaching social reforms that emancipated poor peasants, abolished privileges and the practice of torture, Vatican News reported.
He showed the same mercy towards his persecutors: “Although he denounced their errors and abuses in no uncertain terms, he tried to keep a channel of dialogue open with them and above all always offered his forgiveness,” Pope Francis remarked.
The pope told the pilgrims to think about Pope Pius VII and try to imitate his “style of meekness and readiness to sacrifice.”
He said, “But this does not mean we are stupid, no, no, that is not meekness. Meekness, but cunning as the Lord recommends. Simple as the dove but cunning as the snake.”
