Pope Pius VI was caught on the wrong side of history and the thirst for power by Napoleon Bonaparte whose troops first invaded Rome in 1796 . At first a truce was declared with Pius ’ blessing . General Berthier later marched to Rome under pretext heading a second French invasion force and entered it unopposed on 10 February 1798 . Proclaiming a Roman Republic , his demands of the Pope included the renunciation of his temporal authority . The aging pope refused to surrender his temporal powers and was captured , transported to France and kept prisoner in Valence . There , frail and weakened by the trip he died six weeks later on August 29 , 1799 , aged 81 and was unceremoniously buried locally . Pius VI had at that time reigned longer than any Pope .

Pius VI ’ s body was embalmed , but had not been buried until 30 January 1800 after Napoleon saw political advantage to burying the deceased Pope in efforts to bring the Catholic Church back into France . Seeking a reconciliation with the Catholic masses Napoleon also agreed to moving the Pope ’ s body which had been buried ignominiously in France and he had it transported back to Rome by ship for a dignified burial in the Basilica in Saint Peter ’ s in Rome .

It was during this voyage that divine winds blew the ship off course and the captain sought refuge in Monaco .

MONEGASQUES PROTECT THE EMBALMED BODY OF POPE PIUS VI

Monegasques revered the Pope and accorded him the respect due and temporarily guarded his embalmed body on the Rock in Saint Nicholas Church . This was the original Church of Saint Nicholas prior to it becoming the Cathedral that we know so well today . This afforded Monegasques the opportunity to demonstrate their affection for the Roman Catholic Church in taking care of the Pope ’ s remains before the ship could continue its journey to Italy .

There is a plaque dedicated to this divine event originally displayed with an inscription in the Church before it was torn down in 1874 to be replaced by today ’ s magnificent Cathedral where it can still be visited . The plaque reads : “ The Sovereign Pontiff Pius VI having died in Valence in Dauphiné ( Province ), the boat carrying his remains to Italy was pushed by violent winds into Port Hercule . In pious recognition the Parish of Monaco erected this plaque on February 12th , 1802 .”

And there is a beautiful fresco on the Chapelle Palatine recording the carriage of Pius VI ’ s embalmed body in his coffin into the Saint Nicholas Church .

The boat carried on with its course as soon as the wind calmed down , and Pius VI ’ s body was finally buried with dignity in Rome on 19th February 1802 , when he was given a Catholic funeral , attended by Pope Pius VII , his successor .

A TALE OF TWO PLAQUES

Following Monaco ’ s plaque in 1802 , currently on view in Saint Nicholas Cathedral on the Rock , it awaited well over a century for another very famous inscription to honour Pope Pius VI to appear in the Vatican grottos in Rome .

By decree of Pope Pius XII in 1949 , the remains of Pius VI were moved to the Chapel of the Madonna below St . Peter ’ s in the Vatican grottos . His remains were placed in an ancient marble sarcophagus . The inscription on the wall above the container reads : “ The mortal remains of Pius VI , consumed in unjust exile , by order of Pius XII are placed in this dignified and decorous location , illustrious for art and history , in 1949 ”.

The Solemn Mass in the St Nicolas Cathedral in Monaco-Ville on January 27 , 2021 Торжественная Месса в Соборе Святого Николая , 27 января 2021 года

Hello Monaco Winter 2021 – 2022 / 33 www . hellomonaco . ru

Hello Monaco # 13 Winter 2021–2022 | Page 35

Following Monaco ’ s plaque in 1802 , currently on view in Saint Nicholas Cathedral on the Rock , it awaited well over a century for another very famous inscription to honour Pope Pius VI to appear in the Vatican grottos in Rome .