Pius IX elected pope after Gregory XVI (1846)

The 1846 conclave elected Cardinal Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti as Pope Pius IX, succeeding Gregory XVI who died in June 1846. The election occurred on 16 June 1846, amidst political unrest in the Papal States. Mastai-Ferretti, a liberal reformer, was chosen on the fourth ballot, receiving a majority exceeding the required two-thirds. His election reflected expectations for reform in the Papal States, though his later reign saw significant political changes.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Pope Gregory XVI died on 1 June 1846, leading to a conclave from 14 to 16 June 1846. The political climate in Italy was unsettled, with the government of the Papal States being a central issue. Gregory XVI had faced insurrections in various parts of the Papal States, which remained under unrest despite harsh measures. The conclave aimed to elect a successor who could address these challenges.

Election. Cardinal Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti, the archbishop-bishop of Imola, was elected on the fourth ballot on 16 June 1846. He received four more votes than the required two-thirds majority. Mastai-Ferretti was seen as a liberal candidate with a track record of generosity. His election was accompanied by widespread expectations that he would champion reform and modernization in the Papal States.

Aftermath. Pius IX was crowned on 21 June 1846. His early papacy was marked by liberal reforms, including easing restrictions on Jewish movement and granting amnesty to revolutionaries. However, his approach changed after the Revolutions of 1848. The election of Pius IX was seen as a potential turning point for the Papal States, with hopes for reform and modernization.

People involved

Sources

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