One major purpose of the Roman Catholic Church's forthcoming Ecumenical Council is to complete the work of internal reform planned by the bishops at the First Vatican Council of 1869-1870. Last week Pope John XXIII announced that he hopes, during the course of the Council, to proclaim the beatification of the Pope who presided over that last council: Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti. who as Pius IX ruled longer (1846-1878) than any Pope in history. If he is later canonized, a process that might take decades, he will be called St. Pius IX.
"Pio Nono" was...
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