St. Pius X

St. Pius X was Pope from 1903 to 1914. Although he was born into poverty, he excelled as a student and continued his studies through his ordination to the priesthood in 1858. He eventually became a professor of theology in a seminary and was named Bishop of Mantua in 1884. In 1893, Pope Leo XIII named him a cardinal and Patriarch of Venice, giving him this position for his devotion to the social welfare of everyone in his archdiocese. When he was elected Pope in 1903, Pius X took as a motto, "to restore all things in Christ." Throughout his pontificate, he promoted daily reception of communion, lowered the age of first communion from twelve to seven, promoted the use of Gregorian chant, and published the first Code of Canon Law. Just before his death in 1914, he approved plans to build what would become the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Pius X was beatified in 1951 and canonized in 1954, both times by Pope Pius XII.