Born Giuseppe Sarto in rural Italy, Pope Pius X served as pope from 1903 to 1914. He placed the Eucharist at the heart of Christian life — encouraging frequent Communion and lowering the age for First Holy Communion to 7 years of age through his 1910 decree Quam Singulari. He recognized that children are capable of great faith and believed that the Eucharist should be a source of strength, not a distant reward. This pastoral decision still shapes the Church’s practice today, reminding us that holiness begins with trust in Jesus, not intellectual perfection.
His pastoral concern, however, extended far beyond the altar. In 1912, he issued the encyclical Lacrimabili Statu, condemning the horrific mistreatment of Indigenous peoples in the Amazon region — especially in Peru. He called on bishops, clergy, and missionaries to defend the dignity of native communities and to oppose the greed, violence, and enslavement inflicted upon them. His words were bold for the time and remain a reminder that the Gospel demands justice, as well as piety.
Through the intercession of Saint Pius X, may the People of God in the Diocese of Cheyenne be renewed in our love for the Eucharist and our zeal for human dignity — especially for the vulnerable and the oppressed.
