fme_1000661 - ITALY - PAPAL STATES - LEO XIII (Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci) Médaille, Basilique du Baptistère de Florence

ITALY - PAPAL STATES - LEO XIII (Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci)

(20/2/1878-20/7/1903)

Of Sienese origin, Leo XIII was nuncio in Brussels, bishop of Perugia, then cardinal from 1853. He became pope on February 20, 1878 following a conclave that lasted only two days. Quite liberal and attentive to the changes of his time, he was a skilful diplomat and reestablished diplomatic relations with Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Russia. On the social level, he denounced the excesses of capitalism and committed himself to defending the workers. He also remains the one who opened up the Vatican archives to researchers..