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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

The Longest-Reigning Pope

20/6/2019

 
Map
Medallion to Pope Pius IX, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Monument to Pope Pius IX

On June 16th, 1871, Pius IX (r. 1846-78) became the first pope to reign for twenty-five years. The achievement was duly commemorated in St Peter's Basilica when his portrait (in mosaic) was placed above a much venerated bronze statue of St Peter. 

​The inscription reads: "The Vatican clergy embellished the sacred seat for Pius IX, Pontifex Maximus, who alone in the Roman pontificate equalled the years of St Peter on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of July, 1871."


At the time the monument was erected, St Peter, held by the Catholic Church to have been the first pope, was believed to have reigned for twenty-five years.

In addition to Pius IX, only two other popes have reigned for twenty-five years or more: Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903) and John Paul II (r. 1978-2005). 

Pius IX, however, also holds the record for being the longest-reigning pope. When he died on February 7th, 1878, he had been head of the Catholic Church for 31 years and 236 days. 
​

His body was originally buried in St. Peter's Basilica, but on July 13th, 1881, it was moved in a night procession to the church of  San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.

​On September 3rd, 2000, Pius IX was beatified by Pope John Paul II (r. 1978-2005). 

Monument to Pope Pius IX, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Monument to Pope Pius IX
Tomb of Pope Pius IX, San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome
Tomb of Pope Pius IX

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    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque