Pius VII (1742-1823) was elected pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 1800. He was pope during the difficult years when Napoleon I of France controlled much of central and western Europe, and during the European settlement that followed Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. At first, Pius followed a conciliatory policy with Napoleon. He made an agreement with Napoleon that guided church-state relations in France for more than 100 years. In 1804, Pius went to Paris to crown Napoleon emperor.
However, as Napoleon increased his demands, Pius stiffened his resistance. He refused to join the continental blockade against England, and he refused to grant Napoleon a divorce from Josephine. In 1809, Napoleon annexed the Papal States. Pius excommunicated all who took part in this action. He was arrested and held in Fontainebleau until 1814. Pius’s strong stand against Napoleon won him the admiration of the European powers. They supported his bid to reclaim the Papal States after Napoleon’s defeat.
Pius was born on Aug. 14, 1742, in Cesena, Italy. His given and family name was Gregorio Luigi Barnaba Chiaramonti. He became a Benedictine monk at the age of 14. Pope Pius VI named him a cardinal in 1785. Pius VII died on Aug. 20, 1823.
