Record of the Week: The Late Pope Pius IX

On February 7th, 1878, Pope Pius IX died. Archbishop Lynch saved the February 16th issue of Canadian Illustrated News commemorating the late pontiff:

The Late Pope Pius IX.

February 16th, 1878

L AJ01.01
Archbishop Lynch Fonds

Pope Pius IX Fast Facts:

• He was history's longest serving Pope, from June 16th, 1846 to February 7th, 1878.
• He was the last sovereign of the Papal States, which were seized by the Kingdom of Italy over several years ending in 1870.
• He was known as 'Pio Nono.'
• He convened the First Vatican Council, which defined Papal Infallibility.
• He defined the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
• He brought rail service to the Papal States, and his private rail cars are on display in Rome.
• He raised Toronto to a metropolitan see in 1870, making Bishop Lynch an Archbishop. 
• He created 17 dioceses in Canada.  
• He was the first pope to be formally photographed.
• He suffered from epilepsy.
• He was beatified September 3rd, 2000, by Pope Saint John Paul II. 

Read the article inside the newspaper about Pope Pius IX here.