Pius IX
Pius IX became head of the Catholic church in 1846 and instituted the doctrine of Papal infallibility.
Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti
Religious Leader
May 13, 1792
Taurus
February 07, 1878
85
Sinigaglia, Italy
Pius IX, who holds the record for the longest-serving elected Pope in Catholic Church history, is renowned for establishing the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in 1854 and the doctrine of Papal infallibility in 1870. He was a strong advocate for Catholic education, founded the Vatican City State, denounced modernism, and resisted Italian unification. Moreover, Pius IX called for the First Vatican Council in 1869. Among his other significant accomplishments are his condemnation of violence against bishops and clergy in Switzerland and the signing of a concordat with Russia in 1847. It is noteworthy that Pius IX assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in 1846 and introduced the doctrine of Papal infallibility.