Pius VII

In 1802, Pius VII presided over the funeral of his predecessor, Pius VI, whose body returned to the Vatican after he died in 1799 in exile.

But in 1815, with Pope Pius VII arbitrating restitution demands, the French, did give Italy a painting in exchange — not “The Wedding Feast,” but Charles Le Brun’s “The Feast in the House of Simon.”

It was spruced up in time for Napoleon to be crowned emperor there in 1804, with Pope Pius VII in attendance.

Napoleon and his wife Josephine were among those crowned at the altar, in their case with Pope Pius VII officiating.

In the 16th century, the pope gave a French king the right to appoint major clerics, and Pope Pius VII signed a similar agreement with Napoleon in the 19th century.