Pope Benedict XV (Giacomo Della Chiesa) was born on November 21, 1854. As Pope, he showed awareness of social issues, in the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII. Benedict XV favoured reconciliation with the Orthodox Churches and he had a special interest in the Eastern Catholic rites. He was the Pope who canonised Joan of Arc in 1920. Benedict XV died on January 22, 1922.

Elected Pope barely a month after the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Benedict XV constantly appealed for peace – evidence of this are his encyclicals Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum (November 1, 1914) and Pacem Dei Munus Pulcherrimum (May 23, 1920).

These encyclicals are worth revisiting so that they will enlighten us with more knowledge of the Papacy in the past century and the relevance of their teachings today.

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