Pius VII, Pope, 1800-1823

By JOHN ALLEMANG, The Globe and Mail
Wednesday, July 24, 2002

The choice of his successor came as a shock. Pius VII was an easygoing man who made his own bed. He earned Napoleon's praise by delivering sermons favourable to democracy. He was no radical; he was reaching out. But when he returned to Rome as Pope in 1800, goodness wasn't enough: Napoleon had defeated the Austrians and was back in charge.

The older, wiser Napoleon realized Pius could be useful in building support with French Catholics. He concluded an agreement with Rome that restored the Church in France in exchange for recognition of Napoleon's ultimate authority.

Pius was to be his pawn, but it didn't turn out that way. He obeyed Napoleon's order to anoint him as emperor in 1804, but he got his own back by insisting Napoleon marry his mistress before the coronation could go ahead.

Napoleon continued to provoke his papal ally, but Pius wouldn't play along. Finally, Napoleon's troops took him captive, hoping isolation would make him cave in. But Pius resisted for six years, long enough for Napoleon to be humbled by his Russian campaign. The emperor abdicated and Pius returned to Rome more king than pawn.