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100th Anniversary of the Restoration Of Diplomatic Relations Between the Holy See and Poland, Scott 1715 (2019) Pictured: Jozef Pilsudski and Pope Benedict XV</center>
 
Giacomo Della Chiesa was born on 21 November 1854 into an old patrician family in Genoa and served as Pope Benedict XV from 1914-1922.
 
He received a degree as Doctor of Civil Law from Genoa University and then studied in Rome at Capranica College and the Gregorian University. Della Chiesa was ordained in December 1878 and then studied for the diplomatic service. He served as secretary to Mariano Cardinal Rampolla during diplomatic posts and then, when Rampolla became Secretary of State, della Chiesa served as under-secretary of state. He was named a cardinal by St. Pius X four months prior to his election as Benedict XV. Benedict served as pope during World War I. Diplomatic relations were expended by the Holy See during this era. Benedict called for national reconciliation during the war and submitted a plan for peace, some elements of which were included in Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Point Plan.
 
Benedict promulgated the new version of Canon Law in 1917. He gave support to formation of the Italian Popular Party, something of a ‘Catholic Party', to be involved in Italian politics, thereby reducing the demand of non-participation in political affairs issued by Pius IX. Benedict XV also took issue with the extremes of both modernism and relativism, theological approaches which were at severe odds during the pontificates of his predecessor, Pope Pius X.
 
Benedict XV died unexpectedly at age 67 from influenza/pneumonia in 1922. Pope Benedict XVI took the name “Benedict” in part out of respect for his predecessor as well as for the founder of Benedictine monasticism. Of Benedict XV, Benedict XVI stated shortly after his 2005 election:
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"Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."
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Click on the Page 2 button below for additional information on Pope Benedict XV.
 
REFERENCES: 
<li>J. N. D. Kelly, Oxford Dictionary of Popes 
<li>Wikipedia, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XV'>Benedict XV</a> 
<li>James C. Hamilton, Vatican Notes, Volume 61, Number 356, pp. 13-15, 2013, <a href='http://vaticanstamps.org/vaticannotes/idisplay.php?p=61-356-12-13&r=0'>Pope Benedict XV on Post Cards</a>

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