| |
| | Pope Pius IX |
 | | Feb. 7, 1878, Rome), head of the Roman Catholic Church whose pontificate (1846-78) was the longest in history and was marked by a transition from liberalism to conservatism. |
 | | Victor Emanuel, having been aided by Garibaldi, a 33° Mason, in overthrowing the temporal power of the papacy and establishing religious and constitutional liberty in Italy, was informed that the Pope, when a young man, had been Initiated, Passed and Raised in a Masonic lodge. |
 | | Pius IX was found guilty, expelled, and the proclamation of his expulsion, signed by Victor Emanuel, then king of Italy and grand master of Masons in that country, was sent all over the Masonic world." |
| freemasonry.bcy.ca /biography/pius_ix/pius_ix.html (283 words) |
|