August 14

Pope Pius VII, born Barnaba Chiaramonti, led the Catholic Church during the turbulent Napoleonic era. He signed the Concordat of 1801, restoring the Church in post-revolutionary France, and crowned Napoleon as Emperor in 1804. After refusing to annul Napoleon’s marriage, he was arrested in 1809 and spent nearly five years in captivity in France. Upon his release in 1814, Pius VII returned to Rome and worked to rebuild the Church’s institutions and influence. He restored the Society of Jesus, convened synods for Church reform, and supported missionary activities worldwide. His papacy shaped Church-state relations in Europe and left a lasting impact on Catholic governance.

Giacomo Capuzzi was ordained as a priest in 1952 and devoted his life to pastoral ministry. He was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Lodi in 1989, serving until his retirement in 2005. During his tenure, he emphasized social outreach, youth engagement, and lay participation in the church. Capuzzi oversaw restorations of historic churches and supported charitable programs in Lombardy. He contributed to theological discussions on liturgy and community service within the Italian episcopate. In retirement, he continued to mentor clergy and laity in his diocese.