Pope Benedict XV

Pope Benedict XV (; , 21 November 1854 – 22 January 1922), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, was an Italian priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the 259th Pope from 1914 until his death in 1922.
His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I.
Priest.
Della Chiesa was ordained a priest on 21 December 1878.
Bishop.
Pope Pius X made della Chiesa Bishop of Bologna in 1907.
Cardinal.
On 25 May 1914, Giacomo della Chiesa was created a cardinal.
Pope.
Cardinal Della Chiesa was elected pope in 1914; and he chose to be called Benedict XV.
Joan of Arc was canonized by Benedict.
Benedict made efforts to encourage peace in World War I. He refused to denounce either side. In 1918, Pope Benedict was excluded from the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, despite his entreaties to be made part of the talks.
Benedict XV helped develop a Code of Canon Law.
Benedict XV was the fourth Pope since the Kingdom of Italy took possession of Rome.
The last years of his papacy were concerned with making sure that the Church could still function smoothly in the newly changed borders of Europe.
Death and legacy.
Benedict XV fell ill with pneumonia in early January 1922. He died on 22 January 1922. The Italian Government lowered its flags in his honor; Benedict was the first pope to be honored in this way.
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI explained why he chose the name Benedict: