Chiaramonti was made Bishop of Tivoli in 1782, and resigned that position upon his appointment as Bishop of Imola in 1785. That same year, he was made a cardinal. In 1789, the French Revolution took place, and as a result a series of anti-clerical governments came into power in the country. In 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, French troops under Louis-Alexandre Berthier invaded Rome and captured Pope Pius VI, taking him as a prisoner to France, where he died in 1799. The following year, after a sede vacante period lasting approximately six months, Chiaramonti was elected to the papacy, taking the name Pius VII.
Chiaramonti was made Bishop of Tivoli in 1782 and resigned that position upon his appointment as Bishop of Imola in 1785 That same year he was made a cardinal In 1789 the French Revolution took place and as a result a series of anti-clerical governments came into power in the country In 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars French troops under Louis-Alexandre Berthier invaded Rome and captured Pope Pius VI taking him as a prisoner to France where he died in 1799 The following year after a sede vacante period lasting approximately six months Chiaramonti was elected to the papacy taking the name Pius VII