1087283 | VATICAN CITY. Pius XII. (Pontiff, 1939-1958). An XI (1949) AR Medal. PCGS SP65. By Aurelio Mistruzzi. Edge: Plain. PIVS XII PONTIFEX MAXIMVS AN XI. Bust, left; signed in right field behind shoulder / DEFENSIO FIDEI CATHOLICAE. An allegorical figure of Faith radiant and enthroned with a cross and holding the gospels (EVANGELIVM); to either side stands a defending angel with shields inscribed, VERITAS and IVSTITIA. Rinadi 143; Bartolotti E 949; Cusumano Modesti 66.

Struck to underscore the Church's ideological opposition to Marxist communism taking hold amongst Catholics.


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The Pope worked energetically to counter the spread of Marxist ideology amongst his followers. The sudden rise of the Communist parties in France and Italy and the persecutions of the Catholic Church in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, saw the Pope forbade Catholics from supporting communism under penalty of excommunication.