May 31, 1857: The Birthday of Pope Pius XI & A Few Minutes with a Pope–Souvenirs

The featured image is an autographed blessing signed by Pius XI– a hand-colored photo of him sitting at his desk.

It is in an ornate frame that has cross keys and a tiara as part of the frame itself.

Presentation Frame

A type of framed object, often a photo where the frame is included as part of the gift. In the Collection it designates the often beautiful frame containing an autograph of a famous person, usually a pope.

Here is a link to Father Kunst’s, “A Few Minutes with a Pope
Souvenirs in Rome

https://fb.watch/5Kyz0_MDkS/

Era: 1922-1939

Achille Ratti was born May 31, 1857, near Milan, the son of a silk factory manager. He entered the seminary at the age of ten where his scholastic abilities were soon recognized. Ratti eventually earned doctorates in theology, canon law and philosophy at the Gregorian University in Rome, but his real interest was in history. He was ordained in 1879, became a professor at the seminary in Padua for eight years and then worked at the Ambrosian Library in Milan, eventually becoming its prefect. In 1912, Pius X made him assistant librarian at the Vatican Library and prefect in 1914. He wrote and published many historical articles and was also an avid mountaineer scaling, amongst others, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

In 1918, Pope Benedict XV recognized not only his flair for languages and scholastic prowess, but also his diplomatic potential. He sent him first as an Apostolic Visitor to Poland and in 1919, consecrated him archbishop and nuncio of Lepanto. He was sixty years of age and on his first pastoral assignment, one which he is credited with handling skillfully. When the Bolsheviks threatened to attack Warsaw in 1920, he refused to leave, thus showing great courage as well. In 1920, the government of Warsaw expelled him when he became the target of unfounded Polish national resentment. Benedict XV then made him archbishop of Milan and raised him to the cardinalate. In Milan he was known for his energetic and innovative style.

In February 1922, just months after his elevation to the cardinalate, Benedict XV died of pneumonia. In a conclave lasting four days with fourteen ballots, the choice centered on the continued need for a pontiff with diplomatic skill. The choice was between Cardinal Merry del Val and Cardinal Gasparri. Achille Ratti was a compromise between the conservative and progressive factions of the conclave. Ratti was sixty-four years of age, took the name Pius XI and would rule for seventeen years. His first gesture was to impart his urbi et orbi blessing from the external balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, a sign of his willingness to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Roman Question with the Italian government. Not since 1870 had this blessing been imparted from the balcony. F. Charles-Roux said of him, authority seemed to emanate from him which was neither stiff nor tense and which imposed itself without effort. 

Please visit Papal Artifacts/Pius XI & Papal History/Pius XI to view over 40 items belonging to or associated with this mid-20th century Pope who is particularly significant in the signing of the Lateran Treaty, establishing Vatican City State.  Here is a link:

Pope Pius XI