Below is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the nineteenth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, the starting and ending dates of their reigns, and finally the number of years they were pope. Follow the links to read short biographies of each pope and learn about what they did, what they believed, and what impact they had on the course of the Roman Catholic Church.
252. Pius VII:
March 14, 1800 - July 20, 1823 (23 years)
The first new pope of the 19th century, Pius VII had a long reign for someone who wasn't really the first choice of any of those who elected him. Pius was a compromise candidate, chosen to break a stalemate among cardinals who were divided into nationalistic factions.
253. Leo XII:
September 28, 1823 - February 10, 1829 (5 years)
Leo XII was very much a reactionary pope, who was elected through the efforts of very conservative cardinals. He opposed modern ideas in both religion and politics, causing him to become a very unpopular figure.
254. Pius VIII :
March 31, 1829 - November 30, 1830 (1 year, 8 months)
Pius VIII struggled with declining Church power and growing social problems, like many popes before and after him.
255. Gregory XVI:
February 2, 1831 - June 1, 1846 (15 years)
Gregory was known as a strong reactionary, opposing all aspects of modernism and liberalism whether they were in matters of religion, philosophy or politics. He even banned railroads within his region of authority because he regarded them as a dangerous invention of modernity.
256. Pius IX:
June 16, 1846 - February 7, 1878 (31 years, 7 months)
Still the one who holds the record as the longest reigning pope ever, Pius IX was responsible for calling the First Vatican Council - the one responsible for implementing the doctrine that popes are capable of being infallible when it comes to matters of faith and morals.
257. Pope Leo XIII:
February 20, 1878 - July 20, 1903 (25 years)
Pope Leo XIII not only ushered the Church into the 20th century, he also tried to help improve the Church's transition into a modern world and modern cultures. He supported some democratic reforms and the rights of workers.
