Benedict XV

Tag

(06)

1914

August

20
- Death of Pope Pius XOn 20 August 1914, in the first weeks of the war, Pope Pius X died. Witnesses said the outbreak of war had deeply shaken him. He was succeeded by Benedict XV.

September

03
- Benedict XV elected popeOn 3 September 1914 the conclave elected Cardinal Giacomo della Chiesa pope. As Benedict XV he called for peace and helped victims throughout the war.

November

05
- Belgium rejects papal mediationAccording to a British chronology, on 5 November 1914 the Belgian government rejected papal mediation. A few days earlier Benedict XV had called for peace.

December

07
- A British envoy to the VaticanIn December 1914 Sir Henry Howard became Britain's envoy to Benedict XV. He was London's first official envoy in Rome since the 17th century.

1915

July

30
- Benedict XV appeals for peaceOn the first anniversary of the war Benedict XV appealed to the warring peoples and their rulers to end the "horrible slaughter". It went unanswered.

1917

August

01
- Benedict XV's peace noteIn a note dated 1 August 1917 Benedict XV proposed disarmament, arbitration and the return of occupied lands. He called the war a "useless slaughter".