A poor man in Peter's chair
Today in papal history, the election of a future saint
1903 A.D.
Pope St. Pius X, the 256th successor of St. Peter, was elected on this date to follow Pope Leo XIII, who had died July 20 at 93 years of age, the oldest reigning pope in history.
Although he’s more known today for being a stalwart against the forces of modernism in the Catholic Church, Pius X was far better known in his day for his poverty of spirit. From Popes in a Year:
Giuseppe Sarto was one of eight children born to Giambattista and Margherita Sarto on June 2, 1835. He came from a small village and a poor family, but was a bright student with a pious heart from his earliest days. He attended seminary in Padua -- focusing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and scholastic philosophy -- and was ordained in 1858. He became a pastor 10 years later, canon of the cathedral and diocesan administrator in 1875, and finally a bishop in 1884. Recognized by Pope Leo XIII for being a solid bishop and faithful son of the Church, Giuseppe was made Cardinal Archbishop of Venice in 1893.
Pius X reigned for just over 11 years, dying in 1914, and at the time of his canonization four decades later he became just the third pope in over 640 years to be named a saint – St. Pius V (canonized 1712) and St. Celestine V (canonized 1313) being the previous two.
Pope St. Pius X, pray for us!