Editing Pope Benedict XV (section)

=== Cardinal ===
[[File:Benedicthorse.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.6|Archbishop della Chiesa on pastoral visit in 1910]]

It was a custom that the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bologna|Archbishop of Bologna]] would be made a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] in one of the coming [[College of Cardinals|consistories]]. In Bologna this was surely expected of della Chiesa as well, since, in previous years, either cardinals were named as archbishops, or archbishops as cardinals soon thereafter.<ref name="De Waal 110">De Waal 110</ref> [[Pius X]] did not follow this tradition and left della Chiesa waiting for almost seven years. When a delegation from Bologna visited him to ask for della Chiesa's promotion to the College of Cardinals, he jokingly replied by making fun of his own family name, Sarto (meaning "tailor"), for he said, "Sorry, but a Sarto has not been found yet to make the cardinal's robe."<ref name="De Waal 110" />

[[File:Benedikt XV. als KardinalJS.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|Cardinal Della Chiesa in 1914]]

Cardinal Rampolla died on 16 December 1913. On 25 May 1914, della Chiesa was created a [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]], becoming [[Cardinal-Priest]] of the ''[[Titular church|titulus]]'' ''[[Santi Quattro Coronati]],'' which before him was occupied by [[Pietro Respighi]]. When the new cardinal tried to return to Bologna after the consistory in Rome, an unrelated socialist, anti-monarchic and anti-Catholic uprising began to take place in Central Italy. This was accompanied by a general strike, the looting and destruction of churches, telephone connections and railway buildings, and a proclamation of a secular republic. In Bologna itself, citizens and the Catholic Church opposed such developments successfully. The Socialists overwhelmingly won the following regional elections with great majorities.<ref>De Waal 117</ref>

As World War I approached, the question was hotly discussed in [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]] as to which side to be on. Officially, Italy was still in an [[Political alliance|alliance]] with [[German Empire|Germany]] and [[Austria-Hungary]]. However, in the [[County of Tyrol|Tyrol]], an integral part of Austria which was mostly German-speaking, the southern part, the province of [[Trentino]], was exclusively Italian-speaking. The clergy of Bologna was not totally free from nationalistic fervor either. Therefore, in his capacity as Archbishop, on the outbreak of [[World War I]], della Chiesa made a speech on the Church's position and duties, emphasizing the need for [[Neutral country|neutrality]], promoting peace and the easing of suffering.<ref>De Waal 124</ref>