The Holy See exercised temporal power, as distinguished from its spiritual and pastoral activity, while the pope ruled the Papal States in central Italy. The Papal States ceased to exist following the
Papal tiara of Pope Pius IX, the last pope to have reigned over the Papal States
Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) in his papal tiara, which he claimed as signifying both his spiritual and (indirect) temporal power
Papal coronation of Pope Celestine V
Capture of Rome
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The capture of Rome occurred on 20 September 1870, as forces of the Kingdom of Italy took control of the city and of the Papal States. After a plebiscite held on 2 October 1870, Rome was officially ma
Temporal power of the Holy See
…from its spiritual and pastoral activity, while the pope ruled the Papal States in central Italy. The Papal States ceased to exist following the capture of Rome in 1870 by the Royal Italian Army, after which its remaining territories were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 later established…
Barricades at Porta San Giovanni, photographed on 21 September 1870, after the breach of the Aurelian Walls
Pope Pius IX blesses his troops for the last time, at St. Peter's Square, 25 April 1870
Porta Pia on 21 September 1870, following the breach of the Aurelian Walls
The breach in the Aurelian Walls (right), near Porta Pia (left), opened by Italian artillery fire during the Capture of Rome, in a contemporary photograph