Editing Pope Pius X (section)

== Cardinalate and patriarchate ==
[[File:Kardinál Sarto.jpg|thumb|Photo as Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto]]
[[Pope Leo XIII]] made him a [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] of the order of cardinal priests in a secret [[papal consistory|consistory]] on 12 June 1893.<ref>{{cite book |title=Acta Sanctae Sedis |volume=XXV |date=1892–1893 |page=721 |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-25-1892-93-ocr.pdf |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> In a public consistory on 15 June, the pope gave him his cardinal's red [[galero]], assigned him the titular church of [[San Bernardo alle Terme]], and appointed him [[Patriarch of Venice]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Acta Sanctae Sedis |volume=XXVI |date=1893–1894 |pages=3, 7 |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ass/documents/ASS-26-1893-94-ocr.pdf |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> This caused difficulty, however, as the government of reunified Italy claimed the right to nominate the Patriarch, since the previous sovereign, the [[Emperor of Austria]], had exercised that power. The poor relations between the [[Roman Curia]] and the Italian civil government since the [[Capture of Rome|annexation of the Papal States]] in 1870 placed additional strain on the appointment. The number of vacant [[Episcopal See|sees]] soon grew to 30. Sarto was finally permitted to assume the position of patriarch in 1894. In regard to being named as a cardinal, Sarto told a local newspaper that he felt "anxious, terrified and humiliated".<ref name=SPC/>
[[File:Sarto Jozef.jpg|thumb|Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto as patriarch of Venice]]
After being named cardinal and before leaving for Venice, he visited his mother. Overwhelmed with emotion, she asked: "My son, give your mother a last blessing", sensing that it would be the last time that they would see each other.<ref name=SPX/> Arriving in Venice, he was formally enthroned on 24 November 1894.

As cardinal-patriarch, Sarto avoided politics, allocating his time to social works and strengthening parochial credit unions. However, in his first [[pastoral letter]] to the Venetians, Sarto argued that in matters pertaining to the pope, "There should be no questions, no subtleties, no opposing of personal rights to his rights, but only obedience."{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

In April 1903, Pope Leo XIII reportedly said to [[Lorenzo Perosi]]: "Hold him very dear, Perosi, as in the future he will be able to do much for you. We firmly believe he will be our successor". As a cardinal, he was considered by the time of his papal election as one of the most prominent preachers in the Church despite his lesser fame globally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=COLCOUR19030807.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title=Sarto is Elected as Poep|publisher=Colombia Courier|date=7 August 1903|author=|accessdate=22 February 2022}}</ref> In his role as a cardinal, Sarto held membership in the congregations for [[Congregation of Bishops and Regulars|Bishops and Regulars]], [[Sacred Congregation of Rites|Rites]], and [[Congregation for Indulgences and Sacred Relics|Indulgences and Sacred Relics]].