Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII.

Cardinal (Catholic Church)

Senior church official

A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Cardinals are chosen and formally…

1939 conclave

A conclave was held on 1 and 2 March 1939 to elect a new pope to succeed Pius XI, who had died on 10 February. All 62 eligible cardinal electors attended. On the third ballot, the conclave elected Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber and cardinal…

Pope Pius XII

Head of the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958

Pope Pius XII was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death on 9 October 1958. He is the most recent pope to take the pontifical name "Pius".

March 2

Day of the year

March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 304 days remain until the end of the year.