Pope Leo XII, born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiorre Girolamo Nicola della Genga on August 22, 1760, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from September 28, 1823, until his death on February 10, 1829
. He came from a noble family in the Papal States and was ordained a priest in 1783. Before becoming pope, he served as private secretary to Pope Pius VI and held various diplomatic and ecclesiastical roles, including papal nuncio to Lucerne and Cologne, and later cardinal bishop of Senigallia and vicar general of Rome
. Leo XII's papacy was marked by a deeply conservative approach. He enforced strict laws, including one forbidding Jews to own property, and raised taxes despite the financial poverty of the Papal States
. His health was poor throughout his papacy, but he was noted for enduring pain well
. His reign took place during a turbulent period in Europe following the Napoleonic Wars, and he sought to restore traditional Catholic values and authority amidst rising secularism and liberalism
. In summary, Pope Leo XII was a conservative pope who led the Catholic Church from 1823 to 1829, known for his strict policies and efforts to uphold traditional church authority during a time of political and social change in Europe
