Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Pope Pius IX oppose Italy’s seizure of Rome and the Papal States?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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.

Pope Pius IX opposed the Italian seizure of Rome and the Papal States primarily because he believed that the exercise of temporal authority was essential to protect his spiritual power.1

While Pius IX initially showed interest in reform, he concluded that nationalism and liberalism were inextricably linked to revolutionary movements that threatened the integrity of the church. He viewed the loss of his temporal lands as an unacceptable alteration of his position, fearing that without his status as a sovereign ruler, his ability to fulfill his spiritual functions would be compromised.12

Following the occupation of Rome by Italian troops in 1870, Pius IX refused to recognize the new political reality or accept the Law of Guarantees, which the Italian government had proposed to regulate their relationship. Instead, he declared himself a "prisoner in the Vatican," maintaining this stance until his death. This conflict, known as the Roman question, remained unresolved until the Lateran Treaty of 1929.3124