PIUS XI: (1857-1939) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1922-39. Pius XI was the first sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11^th February 1929. A good signed 12.5 x 18.5 photograph (32 cm x 47 cm), the G. Felici from Rome image depicting Pope Pius XI in a half length pose. Signed `Pius P.P. XI´, in large bold black ink letters, beneath a written Apostolic blessing request from Giuseppe Spano and family. The photograph bears to the bottom matted left corner a blind embossed Papal seal. Overall age wear and small staining mostly to the matted edges, and few scratches to the left edge photograph, otherwise G