Saint Pius X

Giuseppe Sarto was born on June 2, 1835, in Riese, in northern Italy, the son of a village postman and a seamstress. Ordained in 1858, he served for years as a curate and parish priest, teaching catechism and caring for the poor. He became bishop of Mantua in 1884 and Patriarch of Venice in 1893, and on August 4, 1903, he was elected pope, taking as his motto To restore all things in Christ.

As pope he kept the simplicity of a country pastor. He encouraged frequent and even daily Communion, and in 1910 he lowered the age of First Communion to the age of reason, about seven, opening the Eucharist to children. He promoted catechism teaching, began the reform of canon law and of church music, restoring Gregorian chant, and defended the faith against modernism. He worked to prevent the First World War and was heartbroken when it began. He died on August 20, 1914, and was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954.

Children making their First Communion are often entrusted to his prayers, and many parishes and Catholic schools named after him celebrate with Mass and special events.

Pilgrims visit his birthplace in Riese, now called Riese Pio X, and his tomb in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.