Benedict XV

1 8.0

The pope from 1914 to 1922 who asked for peace during World War I and helped prisoners of war

proper noun

: Benedicto XV

Pope Benedict XV was known for his peace efforts during World War I.

Examples

During the chaos of World War I, Benedict XV appealed for an immediate ceasefire between the warring nations.
Many historians credit Benedict XV with establishing humanitarian efforts to aid prisoners of war.
The Vatican's neutrality during the conflict was maintained under the leadership of Benedict XV.
Did Benedict XV establish the Vatican service for prisoners of war?
During World War I, Benedict XV worked tirelessly to promote peace among the nations involved in the conflict.
Many historians recognize Benedict XV as a significant figure for his humanitarian initiatives aimed at helping prisoners of war.
Under the papacy of Benedict XV, the Vatican took a neutral stance while advocating for peace during the Great War.

Synonyms

Pope Benedict XV

vsBenedict XV

1 7.2

Head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922 who worked for peace during World War I

is the same person and facts but named in a shorter or different form

Surface Forms

Benedict XV main

Morphology

Benedict + XV

The form is compositionally transparent: the proper name 'Benedict' combined with the Roman numeral 'XV' yields 'Benedict the fifteenth' (i.e. the fifteenth person with that regnal name). The use of Roman numerals to mark ordinals for monarchs/popes is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will infer it denotes a historical person with that number (though identifying him specifically as the pope may require extra world knowledge).

Etymology

Benedict XV chose the name Benedict when he became 'pope' in 1914 and used 'XV' to show he was the fifteenth of that name. He acted like a calm voice during World War I, calling for 'peace' and helping prisoners, so the name brings to mind a pope who tried to stop the fighting.