Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) was an Italian born in Genoa on 1854 and
named Giacomo della Chiesa successor of Pius X. He was made archbishop of
Bologna in 1907 and cardinal in 1914, two months before his election as
pope. His policy in World War I was one of the strictest neutrality, and
he had the respect of all belligerents. He originated several proposals
for peace. Benedict was charitable toward war victims, and he founded the
Vatican service for prisoners of war. During his pontificate France and
England resumed diplomatic relations with the Holy See and he promulgated
(1917) the Code of Canon Law (Codex iuris canonici). He was succeeded by
Pius XI.