Founded in 1901 by Monsignor Giacomo della Chiesa, who later became Pope Benedict XV. The purpose of the society is to spread the Gospels among Italian-speaking Catholics, and to acquaint them with their proper use and advantages. Its principal publication is a volume of the four Gospels and the Acts, in a new and good Italian translation, with useful notes. It also publishes the Gospels of Matthew and Luke separately. The larger volume is at present in its 300th edition, and between 1901,1926 over a million copies had been distributed. All the books are issued through the Vatican Press, and no profit is realized. The society is supported by voluntary subscriptions, is controlled by both laymen and clerics, and has received the formal approval of both Pope Pius X and Pope Benedict XV.