Pope Pius XII passed away on 1958-10-09 at the age of 82. Born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli in Rome, Italy in 1876, he was the sixth and longest-serving pope of his era. Upon the death of Pope Pius XI in 1939, Pacelli was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as pope for 19 years, setting records for the longest term and most recent papal election. As pope, he was an advocate for European unity, working for peace between nations during World War II. He also wrote and spoke out on topics from social justice to responsible labor practices, and encouraged Catholic action in various areas. Throughout his papacy, Pius XII maintained an important diplomatic relationship with the Vatican, and also held the titles of Sovereign of Vatican City State and head of the Catholic Church. His papacy is also remembered for his cultivation of the Catholic Church’s relations with other churches and religions, as well as for his strong support of charitable works, particularly those for the disadvantaged. He will be remembered by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike as a spiritual leader devoted to inter-faith dialogue and the improvement of the human condition.