Pius held the throne from 1903 to 1914, and spent his time fighting against modernity. He demanded that church music use less Baroque, and more Gregorian Chant. He disapproved of all attempts to reconcile Church doctrine with modern philosophy. He refused to accept Rome's current political state. His pretensions to the now-defunct papal states led to poor relations with Europe's governments, and he died shortly after the beginning of World War I.

He was revered by Catholics after that, and was canonized after WWII.