PIUS XII: (1876-1958)

PIUS XII: (1876-1958) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1939-58. Apostolic Blessing Signed, Pius pp XII, one page, large folio, n.p. (Vatican City), n.d. (April 1942). The attractively penned manuscript blessing, with a colourful decorative initial letter, in Italian, reads, in full, ' The Provincial Superior of the Daughters of Charity, Canoness of the Province of Saint Mark, humbly prostrate to kiss Your feet, implores the Papal blessing for the orphanage, which by the charitable generosity of the good Signora Teresa Remi Achiesari has been set up in Conselve and inaugurated on 10th April 1942, under the patronage of the Blessed Madalena di Canossa, so that her spirit of charity may be revived and relived among the girls.' Signed in dark fountain pen ink at the base alongside a blind embossed Papal seal. Affixed to the upper half of the document is a circular image of the Pope standing in a half length pose wearing his ecclesiastical robes. The photograph is encircled by an attractive hand painted floral decoration of various colours. A heavy horizontal fold to the centre and some light age wear. One tear to the base, only very slightly touching the Pope's signature. G.