Editing Pope Pius XI (section)

== Personality ==
Pius XI was seen as a blunt-spoken and no-nonsense man, qualities he shared with [[Pope Pius X]]. He was passionate about science and was fascinated with the power of radio, which would soon result in the founding and inauguration of [[Vatican Radio]]. He was intrigued by new forms of technology that he employed during his pontificate. He was also known for a rare smile.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

Pius XI was known<ref name="Kertzer">{{Cite news |title='Pope And Mussolini' Tells The 'Secret History' Of Fascism and the Church : NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/01/27/265794658/pope-and-mussolini-tells-the-secret-history-of-fascism-and-the-church |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204033927/http://www.npr.org/2014/01/27/265794658/pope-and-mussolini-tells-the-secret-history-of-fascism-and-the-church |archive-date=4 February 2014 |access-date=4 February 2014 |newspaper=NPR.org }}</ref> to have a temper at times<ref name="Kertzer" /> and was someone who had a keen sense of knowledge and dignity of the office he held.<ref name="Kertzer" /> In keeping with a papal tradition discarded by his immediate predecessors he insisted that he eat alone with no one around him<ref name="Kertzer" /> and would not allow his assistants or any other priests or clergy to dine with him.<ref name="Kertzer" /> He would frequently meet with political figures{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} but would always greet them seated.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} He insisted that when his brother and sister wanted to see him, they had to refer to him as "Your Holiness"<ref name="Kertzer" /> and book an appointment.<ref name="Kertzer" />

Pius XI was also a very demanding individual, certainly one of the stricter pontiffs at that time.{{fact|date=September 2024}} He held very high standards and did not tolerate any sort of behaviour that was not up to that standard.<ref name="Kertzer" /> In regard to Angelo Roncalli, the future [[Pope John XXIII]], a diplomatic blunder in [[Kingdom of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]], where Roncalli was stationed, led Pius XI to make Roncalli kneel for 45 minutes as a punishment.<ref>Yves Chiron, Pius XI, Perrin, 2004, 418 pp.</ref><ref name="Kertzer" /> However, when in due course Pius learned that Roncalli had made the error in circumstances for which he could not fairly be considered culpable, he apologized to him. Aware of the implied impropriety of a Supreme Pontiff's going back on a reprimand in a matter concerning Catholic faith and morals,<ref>{{Citation |first=Peter |last=Hebblethwaite |title=John XXIII, Pope of the Council |edition=rev |publisher=Harper Collins |place=Glasgow |year=1994 |page=}}</ref> but also deeply conscious that on a human level he had failed to keep his temper in check, he made his apology "as Achille Ratti" and in doing so stretched out his hand in friendship to Monsignor Roncalli.<ref>Elliott, L, 1974, I will be called John – A Biography of Pope John XXIII, London, Collins.</ref>