The twelfth Lion of Rome reigned for six years (1823-1829). Born in 1760 in a province about 78 miles outside of Rome, he was given the name Annibale Sermattei della Genga.

Pope Leo XII was known for his strict and austere nature; he prioritized religious orthodoxy over political popularity.

He is the only 19th-century pope to have celebrated a Jubilee Year in 1825, in the hope of re-establishing Rome as a holy city.

Pope Leo XII reorganized all public education in the papal states through a papal bull, placing it under the Church’s complete oversight.

During his six years as Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XII was deliberate in his efforts to curb the influence of post-Enlightenment thinking and to strengthen the Church’s authoritarian structure. While strong in his administrative decisions, he was also known for his personal piety. He passed away in 1829 at age 68.