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Why did Pope Pius IX initially gain support from Italian liberals?

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Unification of Italy — unification of Italy The unification of Italy. The dates are those of annexation, first to Sardinia-Piedmont and after 1861 to the Kingdom of Italy.

Upon his election in 1846, Pope Pius IX gained the support of Italian liberals because he was perceived as a man of liberal and patriotic views, contrasting sharply with his staunchly conservative predecessor, Gregory XVI.12

His early popularity stemmed from his willingness to implement significant reforms within the Papal States, which many at the time considered in urgent need of modernization. These initial concessions included:12

Granting an amnesty to political prisoners.1
Establishing a municipal government for Rome.1
Admitting laypeople into the civil administration.1
Creating a council of state and a civil guard.1
Introducing a new press law that allowed for some freedom of publication.1

By adopting these measures, Pius IX appeared to align himself with the broader national movement, leading many to hope that the papacy could provide the leadership necessary for Italian unification. His actions also encouraged other Italian rulers to pursue their own reformist agendas, further cementing his status as a symbol of the early Risorgimento.1