Pope Pius XII

Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, is the reigning Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Papal States.

Early Life
1876: The future Pope Pius XII is born Eugenio Pacelli to devoutly Catholic parents Filippo and Virginia Pacelli on 2 March in Rome.

1899: Pacelli is ordained a priest on Easter Sunday after completing his doctoral studies in Sacred Theology at the Almo Collegio Capranica.

1917: Pacelli is appointed nuncio to Bavaria on 23 April and consecrated titular Archbishop of Sardis by Pope Benedict XV on 13 May.

1918: Pacelli is instrumental in securing the restoration of the Papal States during the negotiation of the Treaty of Nuremberg.

1930: Pacelli is made Cardinal-Priest of Santi Giovanni e Paolo by Pope Pius XI and appointed Cardinal Secretary of State on 7 February.

Papacy
1939: Pacelli is elected Pope on his 63rd birthday following the death of Pope Pius XI on 10 February. He is crowned Pius XII on 12 March.