Dates

• Existence: 1742 August 14 - 1823 August 20

Biographical note

Barnaba Niccolo Maria Luigi Chiaramonti was born on August 14, 1742 in Cesena to Count Scipione Chiaramonti and Giovanna Coronata. He joined the Order of Saint Benedict at the age of 14, professing two years later in 1758 and taking the name Gregorio. He taught at Benedictine colleges in Parma and Rome, and was ordained a priest in 1765. In 1773, he became the personal confessor to Giovanni Angleo Braschi, the future Pope Pius VI, who raised him to bishop in 1782 and cardinal in 1785. Following the death of Pope Pius VI in 1799, Chiaramonti was elected pope, taking the name Pius VII. He also ruled the Papal States from 1800-1809 and again 1814-1823; during the intervening period, Napoleon invaded and ruled the Papal States and Pius VII was kept as a prisoner in France. He died in 1823, and was beatified in 2007.

Alternate names

Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, Gregorio Chiaramonti

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