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How did Eugenio Pacelli’s family background connect him to the Vatican?
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Pius XII
Pius XII served as pope from 1939 to 1958; photograph by Yousuf Karsh.
Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, was born into a family belonging to the papal, or "black," nobility, which was deeply committed to service within the Vatican. His family’s connection to the Holy See spanned several generations of influential administrative roles:1
- Great-grandfather: Served as the minister of finance under Pope Gregory XVI.
- Grandfather: Served as the undersecretary of the interior under Pope Pius IX.
- Father: Held the position of dean of the Vatican lawyers.
- Brother: Francesco Pacelli was a key figure who helped conclude the Lateran Accords in 1929, which established the independent state of Vatican City.1