BENEDICT XV, Giacomo della Chiesa: b. Pegli, near seaport of Genoa, 21 Nov. 1854. Made his early studies in the town gymnasia of Genoa at the university of which he received the doctor's degree in jurisprudence. He studied theology at Rome in the Collegio Capranica and was ordained priest in 1878. He then became secretary of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla who when appointed Secretary of State in 1887 chose him as under secretary. In 1907 Mgr. della Chiesa was created arch bishop of Bologna and elevated to the cardi nalate 25 May 1915 and on 3 September, follow ing, after nine ballots, was elected the succes sor of Pius X. The tidings from the conclave were proclaimed from the upper portico of the Vatican Basilica by Cardinal della Volpe. He announced in Latin: '
terrible scenes with which hourly he is pre sented. He is neutral in the strictest sense of the word. His cry is an eloquent appeal for peace. His sympathy is with every fighting man and with the war widows and orphans. In 'Ubi Primum,> his declaration to the Uni versal Church, 8 Sept. 1914, he gives the key note of his policy when he says: °Since fol lowing the example of our Lord, we must be ready even to lay down our life for the salva tion of the flock of Christ, it is our avowed intention to leave nothing undone, in as far as in us lies, to bring the present calamity to a speedy termination.* He is undismayed, and so far as his children are scattered the world over and his priests are on every battlefield and engaged in all kinds of tasks, his figure is the most conspicuous in these disastrous times. All nations look up to him, approve his efforts and are grateful. His most notable pronouncement is his encyclical 'Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum Principis,> 1 Nov. 1914. In it he refers to many matters of world-wide importance. He emphasizes the moral disorders that are ad mitted to be the true source of the present disturbance, the chief of which are: Lack of mutual love among men; disregard for author ity; unjust quarrels between the various classes; material prosperity becoming the prominent ob ject of human endeavor, as if there were nothing higher and better to be gained. His affection for America is very strong. The bibli ography of Benedict XV is very fragmentary. Outside of some magazines and reviews and addresses there is very little information. The best material is to be found in the newspapers of his own and other countries published at the time of his accession. Consult also 'The Offi cial Catholic Directory' (New York 1916).